Deonta Miller, Gun Possession, Jackson MS, 2023

JACKSON, MS – Deonta Miller, 36, of Jackson, Mississippi, is looking at a decade behind bars after admitting he illegally possessed a 9mm pistol. The plea, entered earlier this week, brings a potentially swift end to a case rooted in a routine traffic stop that exposed a pattern of disregard for the law.

According to court documents, a Richland Police officer pulled Miller over on March 3, 2020. The stop quickly revealed Miller wasn’t just driving – he was carrying a loaded 9mm despite already being a convicted felon. This isn’t Miller’s first brush with firearms charges. Court records show he previously faced conviction for felon in possession of a firearm, alongside a carjacking conviction, making this latest offense a clear violation of federal law.

Federal law explicitly prohibits convicted felons from owning or possessing firearms. The ATF, alongside the Richland Police Department, investigated the case, building a solid case against Miller. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ New Orleans Field Division played a key role in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca announced the guilty plea, highlighting the ongoing commitment to removing illegal guns from the streets.

Miller is now scheduled to be sentenced on May 17, 2023. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a hefty $250,000 fine. However, the final sentence will rest with a federal district court judge who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors before handing down the punishment.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam T. Stuart and Charles W. Kirkham. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to unite law enforcement at all levels with local communities to combat violent crime and gun violence. The initiative, relaunched in 2021, focuses on building trust, supporting community organizations, and strategically targeting enforcement efforts.

While the guilty plea offers a measure of closure, the case serves as a stark reminder of the revolving door of crime that plagues many communities. Miller’s history suggests a continued pattern of criminal behavior, and the length of his upcoming sentence will determine whether he’s finally held accountable for his actions and prevented from further endangering public safety.

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