Iva Lacey, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Mississippi 2023

Hattiesburg, Mississippi - A Waynesboro man has been sentenced to over 2 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm after being convicted of multiple prior felonies involving controlled substances.

Iva Lacey, 44, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a $5,000 fine, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to court records, on January 24, 2019, law enforcement found a firearm stored in a secret compartment hidden in Lacey's bathroom while executing a search warrant at his house. Lacey subsequently admitted to possession of the firearm on a recorded jail phone call.

Lacey was indicted on September 25, 2019, and he pled guilty before Judge Starrett on November 26, 2019. He was previously convicted on multiple instances of felonious possession of controlled substances.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Attorney's Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, and the Waynesboro Police Department investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.

Mandatory Facts:

• Defendant/Respondent: Iva Lacey
• Criminal Charges: Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• City and State: Hattiesburg, Mississippi
• Exact Date: January 24, 2019
• Sentence or Outcome: 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a $5,000 fine
• Dollar Amounts: $5,000 fine

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/pr/waynesboro-man-sentenced-over-2-years-federal-prison-under-project-eject-illegally