JACKSON, MS – Boris Ward, 50, of Jefferson County, Mississippi, will spend the next 295 months – over 24 years – in a federal prison after being convicted of trafficking methamphetamine and multiple firearms charges. The sentence, handed down Thursday, marks the culmination of a case that exposed a significant flow of drugs and illegal weapons in the region.
According to court documents, Ward conducted two methamphetamine sales in Jefferson County on June 1st and June 13th, 2018. These weren’t small-time deals; they triggered a full-scale investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and other agencies. The probe culminated in a raid of Ward’s residence, where authorities discovered a staggering cache: 10 firearms and more than half a kilogram – over a pound – of 100% pure methamphetamine.
This wasn’t Ward’s first brush with the law, far from it. The feds unearthed a lengthy criminal history. He’d previously been convicted in Cook County, Illinois, of two counts of armed robbery, two counts of attempted murder, and distribution of cocaine. Back in his home state of Mississippi, he’d also been convicted of escaping from a correctional facility and, again, possession of cocaine. Clearly, Ward had a pattern of disregard for the law.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced the sentencing. The investigation was a collaborative effort, involving the ATF, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bert Carraway and Andrew W. Eichner were responsible for prosecuting the case, building a solid case against Ward.
The case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. According to the Department of Justice, the program focuses on building trust, supporting community organizations, and strategically prioritizing enforcement.
Ward’s lengthy sentence sends a clear message: trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms will not be tolerated. The ATF’s New Orleans Field Division played a key role in the investigation, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and keeping dangerous individuals off the streets. This conviction is a victory for law enforcement and a step towards making Jefferson County, and the entire Southern District of Mississippi, a safer place.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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