One of Chattanooga's 'worst of the worst' given 34-month sentence on firearms charge

TIMELINEApril 2013: Mayor-elect Andy Berke first pitches VRI to cityJuly 2013: Berke marks 100 days in office, promises the city will see fewer shootings by 2014December 2013: Berke pledges to bring VRI to ChattanoogaMarch 2014: Police and city leaders hold the first call-inJune 2014: Richard Bennett, the main contact for gang members in VRI, is arrestedJune 2014: City and police leaders cut ties with BennettJune 2014: The city asks for a new community partner to replace BennettJuly 2014: City choses Hope for the Inner City as Bennett's replacementAugust 2014: Police say 58 people have landed jobs through VRISeptember 2014: Two of three charges against Bennett are droppedOctober 2014: Police plan to expand the VRI effort to target non-gang membersSource: Times Free Press archives

Arrested in last year's round-up of what police called "worst of the worst" drug offenders, Reginald Oakley on Monday received a sentence of 34 months in federal prison on a firearms charge.

U. S. District Judge Harry S. "Sandy" Mattice split the difference between prosecutors' request for a 37-month sentence and a defense request for 30 months.

"Good luck to you, Mr. Oakley," Mattice said.

Oakley, 40, has spent the last year in the Bradley County Jail. Before Monday's sentencing, federal authorities dropped drug conspiracy charges against Oakley. He pleaded guilty to the remaining charge placed against him when police pulled over a car he was riding in and found a gun inside. As a felon, Oakley is prohibited from being in possession or proximity of a firearm.

"To my family and friends, I apologize," Oakley said, facing the courtroom where his family sat.

Oakley was also the main architect of the Palm Sunday gang truce in 2013.

photo Reginald Dewayne Oakley

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