Brandon Tavarious Purdy Pleads Guilty to Felony Firearm Possession

Brandon Tavarious Purdy, 27, of Jackson, Tennessee, has pleaded guilty to felony possession of a firearm directly tied to two violent Gangster Disciples shootings. The plea, entered Thursday, December 22, 2016, before Chief U.S. District Judge J. Daniel Breen, marks a critical strike in a federal crackdown on gang-linked gun violence in West Tennessee.

The firearm, a .40 caliber handgun, was found on a kitchen counter next to Purdy during a domestic disturbance call on July 13, 2015, at an apartment in Madison County. Jackson Police Department officers responded to the scene and immediately seized the weapon. Purdy was taken into custody without incident, but the discovery set off a forensic chain that led straight to two unsolved gang shootings.

Ballistics analysis conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed the gun matched shell casings recovered from both crime scenes. Investigators say the weapon was actively used in attacks orchestrated by the Gangster Disciples, a notorious street gang operating in more than 35 states and linked to widespread drug trafficking, firearms distribution, and violent crime.

Purdy is alleged to be a confirmed member of the Gangster Disciples. His criminal record is long and violent: prior convictions include attempted second degree murder, attempted especially aggravated robbery, aggravated robbery, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. Authorities say his continued access to firearms posed a clear danger to public safety.

Now facing sentencing on March 24, 2017, at 10 a.m. before Judge Breen, Purdy could be locked up for up to 10 years in federal prison and fined as much as $250,000. The charge of felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries steep penalties under federal law, especially when gang ties and violent history are factored in.

The case was investigated by the ATF and the Jackson Police Department’s Gang Enforcement Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Boswell is prosecuting on behalf of the government. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea, underscoring federal commitment to dismantling violent street gangs and their arsenals.