Jackson, MS – A local man’s decision to possess a firearm has landed him in hot water, with a federal conviction and potential prison time on the horizon.
Don Cornelius Ward, 38, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in U.S. District Court on September 7, 2022. The charge stems from a February 3, 2020, incident in which Ward was found in possession of a firearm by officers of the Jackson Police Department.
Ward’s possession of the firearm is a stark reminder of the dangers of violating federal law. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing any firearm under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Jackson Police Department and the FBI are investigating the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham leading the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which aims to reduce violent crime through a comprehensive strategy that includes enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partnerships with locally based prevention and reentry programs.
Ward has five prior felony convictions, making his possession of a firearm a serious offense.
Related Federal Cases
- Martin Stephen Brown, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Mississippi 2020 · Mississippi
- Richard Dale Henry, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, OK 2016 · Oklahoma
- Marvin Naylor, Felon Firearm Possession, MS 2017 · Pennsylvania
- Eric Hubbard, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, New York 2024 · New York
- Antonio Eugene Boyd, Felon in Firearm Possession, TN 2024 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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