Jackson Felon Williamson Gets 3 Years for Gun Possession

JACKSON, MS – Another thug off the streets of Jackson. Mikel D. Williamson, 27, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison today for the simple act of being a convicted felon caught with a firearm. The sentence, handed down in federal court, serves as a stark reminder that possessing a gun after a felony conviction carries serious consequences.

The bust went down on October 5, 2023, when the Jackson Police Department spotted Williamson packing heat in his vehicle on County Line Road, disturbingly close to the perimeter of the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Jackson. It wasn’t just any gun; it was a violation of federal law. Williamson’s prior conviction for armed carjacking already stripped him of the right to possess a firearm.

The feds quickly moved in. The FBI secured a federal complaint against Williamson on October 6, 2023, pulling him from state custody and into the federal system. A federal grand jury didn’t hesitate, indicting him on October 11, 2023, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He finally threw in the towel and pled guilty on February 15, 2024 – a late attempt to mitigate the inevitable.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff announced the sentencing, a standard press release glossing over the reality of crime in this city. The FBI handled the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen saw the case through to conviction. It’s a clean, by-the-book prosecution, but will it make a dent in the city’s problems?

This case isn’t an isolated incident; it’s part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN). PSN is the DOJ’s attempt to coordinate local, state, and federal law enforcement to cut down on violent crime and gun violence. The program focuses on building trust with communities, supporting local organizations, and prioritizing strategic enforcement. Sounds good on paper, but the streets tell a different story.

The DOJ claims PSN is working, citing a strategy launched May 26, 2021, that emphasizes community engagement and data-driven enforcement. But for residents of Jackson, the cycle of violence continues. Williamson’s sentence is a small victory, a temporary removal of one player. The real question is: who’s next, and what will it take to truly break the pattern?