Felon Busted

⏱ 2 min read

Eugene Cooper Jr, a 50-year-old Jackson man with a history of burglary and child fondling, was caught with a handgun in his vehicle on March 13, 2024, in the metro Jackson area. The stop by law enforcement led to the discovery of the firearm, and Cooper Jr’s prior convictions made him a felon in possession. He pleaded guilty to the charge on March 25th in federal court. The guilty plea comes as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to combat violent crime and protect communities.

Cooper Jr’s prior convictions for burglary and fondling of a child made him ineligible to possess a firearm. The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, uncovered the illegal possession of the handgun.

The guilty plea sets the stage for Cooper Jr’s sentencing, scheduled for June 25, 2026. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, which will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is a result of the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, to combat violent crime and protect communities. United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff announced the guilty plea.