A 20-year-old Biloxi man admitted in federal court today to illegally possessing multiple firearms while actively using marijuana on a daily basis. Anthony T. Smith, Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user, a charge that exposes him to up to 10 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine.
The arrest stemmed from a search warrant executed by Biloxi Police on December 26, 2019, at Smith’s residence. Officers entered the home and found him inside a bedroom alongside a significant stash of marijuana and three weapons — including a sawed-off shotgun, a firearm modified to evade detection and increase lethality.
During questioning, Smith did not deny the drugs or the guns. He told investigators he had smoked marijuana every single day for the past five to six years, confirming his status as a prohibited person under federal law when it comes to firearm ownership.
The case, investigated by the FBI’s Mississippi Field Office, underscores the federal government’s aggressive stance on felons and drug users accessing weapons. Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin emphasized that such illegal possession puts communities at risk, especially when modified firearms like sawed-off shotguns are involved.
Smith will face sentencing on November 19, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden in Gulfport. Prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose, who built the case on the direct link between Smith’s admitted drug use and his unlawful access to deadly weapons.
U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst reiterated that drug users with firearms are a top enforcement priority. ‘No one gets a pass when dangerous weapons are in the hands of those barred by law,’ Hurst stated. Smith now waits for judgment in a case that blends drug dependency with federal weapons violations.
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Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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