Dewayne Yates, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Mississippi 2019
A Jackson man has been convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Dewayne Yates, 28, of Picayune, was taken into custody in March 2017 during an administrative checkpoint in Jackson.
Yates was found in possession of a firearm by law enforcement during the checkpoint. Further investigation revealed that he had previously been convicted of felonious aggravated assault with a gun in Hinds County. This conviction makes him a convicted felon, and as such, he is not allowed to possess firearms.
On March 5, 2019, Yates was charged in a federal criminal indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He plead guilty to the charges on an unspecified date.
Yates will be sentenced by Judge Henry T. Wingate on November 21, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. Project EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.”
Yates' case is a prime example of Project EJECT's efforts to reduce violent crime in Mississippi. By targeting convicted felons who possess firearms, law enforcement can help to prevent further violent crimes from occurring.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi is committed to reducing violent crime in the state. Project EJECT is just one of the many initiatives being used to achieve this goal.
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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