Jeffrey Caldwell, a 37-year-old resident of Vallejo, has been sentenced to 14 years and seven months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
Caldwell was found guilty on May 13, 2025, after a two-day trial before Judge Coggins. He is barred from possessing firearms or ammunition due to 14 prior felony convictions, which include assault, burglary, and stalking.
Court documents and evidence presented at trial show that on December 16, 2024, several guests at a Vallejo motel called 911 to report that Caldwell was firing a gun inside the building. Officers from the Vallejo Police Department responded quickly and evacuated the building. Caldwell then barricaded himself in his room and refused to surrender.
The police deployed their SWAT and Hostage Negotiation Teams for a standoff that lasted into the early morning hours of the next day. The standoff ended when chemical agents were used to force Caldwell out of his room. He attempted to flee but was arrested soon after.
A search did not find a firearm on Caldwell’s person, but officers later discovered a large hole in the bathroom wall of his motel room containing several items including clothing, bear spray, and a pistol. The firearm was identified as a privately manufactured weapon—often called a ghost gun because it lacks a serial number—and had one round of ammunition in its chamber.
The investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Vallejo Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Campbell and R. Alexander Cárdenas prosecuted the case.
According to officials, this prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by coordinating efforts among law enforcement agencies and community organizations nationwide. In May 2021, the Department of Justice announced an updated strategy for PSN focused on building trust with communities, supporting local groups working to prevent violence before it starts, setting clear enforcement priorities, and tracking outcomes through measurable results (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-announces-new-violent-crime-reduction-strategy).
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