Gulfport, Miss. – Johnathan Quarles, a 25-year-old resident of Gulfport, has admitted to a federal crime of possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user, according to U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi.
The feds dropped the bombshell on Quarles today after he pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden. The tale of drug use and gunplay began last December 26 when Biloxi Police officers were executing a search warrant at a local residence. Outside, they spotted Quarles, who was parked in his vehicle, looking at them. Thinking quickly, Quarles hurled a baggie of pot out the car window as he drove off. But it wasn’t enough to escape the cops’ notice – they found him with an unsheathed .9mm tucked away in his pocket.
Quarles has been a steady user of drugs and is not legally allowed to carry a firearm. When questioned, he admitted to consuming 3-4 ounces of pot daily since he was just 13 years old. The man’s heavy-handed habits caught the eye of the Biloxi Police, who now have him in their sights.
Quarles will be back before Judge Ozerden on November 30, 2020, at 9:30 a.m., where he faces up to ten years behind bars and a quarter-million-dollar fine. The case has been a productive one for the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose leading the prosecution.
Mississippi’s drug problem continues to be a priority for federal law enforcement, as Quarles’ conviction underscores the stakes involved in illegal firearm possession by those under the influence of drugs.
This isn’t just another case; it’s a stark reminder that the war on drugs is real and local. Stay tuned to Grimy Times for updates on this gritty story.
Related Federal Cases
- Gulfport Felon Sentenced to 74 Months for Gun Possession · Mississippi
- Gulfport Felon Walter Williams Sentenced for Gun Possession · Mississippi
- D’Iberville Drug King Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge · Mississippi
- Carthage Man Admits to Meth Trafficking, Gun Charge · Mississippi
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Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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