A Jackson man has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. Bernard Caston, 54, entered his guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Jackson, setting the stage for a lengthy sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
According to court documents, Caston and Fredrick Harper, 44, both of Jackson, stole four firearms from another individual on February 24, 2018. The pair were stopped by a Jackson police officer when they were driving to another location in Jackson to sell the stolen guns. This brazen act of theft and attempted sale of stolen firearms has landed Caston in hot water, with serious consequences looming.
Caston will be sentenced on October 1, 2024. He will be sentenced under the Armed Career Criminal Act based on his prior felony convictions for crimes of violence, including a federal armed bank robbery conviction and multiple house burglary convictions in Hinds County. Under the Armed Career Criminal Act, Caston will face a minimum of 15 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The prosecution will be led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amber Jones and Dave Fulcher, who will argue for the maximum sentence allowed under the law. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Jackson Police Department, with U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives making the announcement.
Harper previously pled guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was sentenced to serve 188 months in prison. The disparity in sentences between the two defendants may be attributed to the differing severity of their prior convictions and the specific circumstances of their cases. Nonetheless, both men will face significant time behind bars for their roles in the theft and attempted sale of stolen firearms.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to crack down on firearm possession by convicted felons. The Armed Career Criminal Act provides for stiff penalties for those who violate federal firearms laws, and Caston’s sentence will serve as a deterrent to others who might consider similar actions. As the sentencing date approaches, the community will be watching to see justice served in this serious crime.
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Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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