Meridian Felon McNeely Faces Decade for Gun Stash

MERIDIAN, MS – Marquis Howard McNeely, 38, of Meridian, is staring down a potential ten-year stretch behind bars after pleading guilty to federal firearms charges. The case, a part of the aggressive ‘Project EJECT’ initiative, highlights the relentless pursuit of repeat offenders illegally armed in the Magnolia State.

According to court documents, McNeely’s troubles began July 24, 2019, when a Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office deputy found him slumped over the wheel of his vehicle, parked erratically on Highway 19. The deputy determined McNeely was intoxicated and took him into custody. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a stolen pistol, leading to initial charges and his release on bond. It wouldn’t be long before he was back in trouble.

Just two months later, on October 8, 2019, McNeely brazenly drove through a traffic safety checkpoint operated by the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office at the intersection of State Boulevard and Chandler Road. A deputy immediately spotted an assault rifle-style pistol wedged between McNeely’s knee and the car’s center console. Another arrest followed, setting the stage for federal intervention.

A federal grand jury indicted McNeely on November 19, 2019, charging him with possession of firearms as a convicted felon. This wasn’t McNeely’s first brush with the law. Records show prior felony convictions for felony DUI, aggravated assault, and the most serious – manslaughter. His criminal history clearly demonstrated a disregard for public safety, prompting federal prosecutors to take the lead.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, through Project EJECT, is tackling violent crime with a multi-pronged approach encompassing prosecution, prevention, re-entry programs, and public awareness. Project EJECT falls under the umbrella of the Department of Justice’s broader Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian initiatives, all aimed at reducing gun violence and bolstering community safety. EJECT – an acronym for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together” – signals a zero-tolerance stance toward those who endanger the public with illegal weapons.

McNeely, currently in custody, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20, 2020, before U.S. Chief District Court Judge Daniel P. Jordan III. He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines per count, meaning a potential twenty-year sentence and half a million dollars in fines if Judge Jordan hands down the maximum. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham, with investigative support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.