Christopher Bills, Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Tennessee 2018

Crime Spree in West Tennessee: 16 Indicted on Federal Firearms Charges

Jackson, TN – In a move to crack down on violent crime, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the indictment of sixteen individuals on federal firearms charges. Ten of the defendants are convicted felons, who are prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms.

According to the indictments, several defendants are alleged to have been convicted felons in possession of firearms that had been shipped or transported in interstate commerce. This is a violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 922(g)(1), which is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least two years.

For defendants with prior violent felony or serious drug offense convictions, the penalty is enhanced, with a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years imprisonment, and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Additionally, it is against federal law to possess or use a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime, which is a violation of 18 USC § 924(c). This is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years imprisonment, and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant stated, ‘Violent crime reduction is the top priority of this office. Our strategy is to remove firearms from the hands of dangerous and prohibited people, and to remove those violent offenders from our communities.’

The indictments include charges against the following individuals:

• Christopher Bills, 25, of Bolivar, Tennessee, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm that had been shipped/transported in interstate commerce.
• Jerrod Jennings, 31, of Jackson, Tennessee, for being a convicted felon and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm that had been shipped/transported in interstate commerce; and possession of a firearm during commission of a drug trafficking crime.
• Mark Lockhart, 40, of Jackson, Tennessee, for being a convicted felon in possession of a stolen firearm that had been shipped/transported in interstate commerce.
• Kenneth Mitchell Fongers, 52, of Milan, Tennessee, for transporting a minor with intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
• Carl Clarke, 28, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm that had been shipped/transported in interstate commerce.
• Dexter Sowell, 34, of Jackson, Tennessee, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm that had been shipped/transported in interstate commerce.
• William Martin Greene, 50, of Jackson, Tennessee, for being a convicted felon in possession and disposing of a firearm that had been shipped/transported in interstate commerce.
• Charles Curry, 26, of Jackson, Tennessee, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm that had been shipped/transported in interstate commerce.
• Houston Crafton, 22, of Jackson, Tennessee, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm that had been shipped/transported in interstate commerce.
• Dacarlos Watkins, 37, of Jackson, Tennessee, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm that had been shipped/transported in interstate commerce.
• Demarlon Gardner, 33, of Brownsville, Tennessee, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm that had been shipped/transported in interstate commerce.

An additional five indictments are under seal, and the United States also seeks criminal forfeiture.

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