A Norfolk man is now facing decades in prison after a federal jury found him guilty on multiple drug and gun charges tied to activity inside his home.
Jamar Edward Gay, 36, was convicted following a trial that laid out what investigators described as a drug operation running out of his residence. The charges include maintaining a drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and multiple firearms violations — including possession of a machinegun tied to drug trafficking.
According to court records, the case centers on a December 18, 2025 search of Gay’s home by a Homeland Security Task Force. Inside the kitchen, investigators said they found a mix of drugs: crack cocaine, powder cocaine, fentanyl, and suboxone strips.
In the bedroom, authorities recovered a handgun that had been modified with a machinegun conversion device — making it capable of automatic fire. Investigators also found two additional conversion devices, along with marijuana and personal items linking Gay to the residence.
Another firearm was located in the living room.
Prosecutors emphasized that Gay was already a convicted felon, with prior convictions that include unlawful wounding in 2018 and malicious wounding in 2022. Under federal law, that history makes it illegal for him to possess any firearms or ammunition.
Now, the stakes are high. Gay faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison, with the possibility of life behind bars. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 2, where a federal judge will weigh sentencing guidelines and other factors.
This case is part of a broader push by federal and local agencies to target drug distribution networks and illegal firearms, particularly those involving modified weapons capable of automatic fire.
In a related case, another man, James Edward Sweat, was also convicted earlier this month on similar drug and firearm charges. He faces a minimum of five years and could receive a life sentence when he is sentenced on July 14.
Taken together, the cases highlight how aggressively federal prosecutors are pursuing drug operations that also involve illegal weapons — especially in Hampton Roads, where law enforcement says the combination continues to pose a serious public safety risk.