Joshual Tyrik Richburg, Gun Possession, MS 2024

GULFPORT, MS – Joshual Tyrik Richburg, a 21-year-old Biloxi resident with ties to the notorious Gangster Disciples, admitted in federal court today to illegally possessing a firearm. The guilty plea comes after investigators uncovered a pattern of heavy marijuana use concurrent with Richburg’s involvement in the local gang scene.

According to court documents, Richburg sold a firearm to an individual on September 20, 2019. The subsequent investigation, spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, quickly revealed a troubling habit: Richburg had been a daily marijuana smoker for several years. This habit, prosecutors successfully argued, disqualified him from legally possessing a weapon.

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and FBI Special-Agent-in-Charge Michelle Sutphin announced the guilty plea, highlighting the ongoing efforts to disarm criminals and disrupt gang activity along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The case serves as a stark reminder that drug use and firearm possession are a dangerous and illegal combination.

Richburg pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a hefty $250,000 fine. While a plea deal may be in discussion, Judge Ozerden will ultimately determine the punishment.

Sources within the FBI indicate that Richburg’s gang affiliation was a key factor in the investigation. The Gangster Disciples have a documented history of violent crime, and authorities are working to dismantle their operations in Biloxi and surrounding areas. The investigation into Richburg’s associates is reportedly ongoing.

Richburg is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on both physical evidence and testimony regarding Richburg’s drug use. This conviction underscores the Grimy Times’ commitment to exposing the underbelly of federal crime and holding offenders accountable.