Jamaal Ellison, Illegal Possession of a Firearm, Mississippi 2024

OXFORD, MS – A reckless high-speed chase ended with a 15+ year federal prison sentence for Jamaal Ellison, 40, of Sardis, Mississippi. Ellison was sentenced Tuesday to 188 months behind bars after pleading guilty to illegal possession of a firearm, a charge carrying significant penalties due to his extensive criminal past.

The incident unfolded in January 2022 when an Oxford Police Department officer attempted to pull Ellison over for speeding. Instead of complying, Ellison floored it, leading officers on a brief but dangerous pursuit. The chase culminated in a crash into a utility pole, after which Ellison tried to ditch the vehicle and escape on foot. He was quickly apprehended.

A search of Ellison’s wrecked car revealed more than just the remnants of a failed getaway. Officers discovered a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol and ammunition, alongside illegal narcotics. Ellison readily admitted to possessing the firearm, a fact that sealed his fate given his prior convictions. He’s no stranger to the system, having racked up multiple felony convictions related to the sale of narcotics.

U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock handed down the 188-month sentence, along with five years of supervised release following his incarceration. The sentence was significantly impacted by the Armed Career Criminal Act, which mandates a minimum 15-year term – and potentially life – for repeat offenders illegally possessing firearms. U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner emphasized the importance of holding such individuals accountable.

“Our communities should be able to expect that repeat felony offenders will face real consequences, and that those consequences will be heightened when that offender illegally possesses a firearm,” Joyner stated. “This office will continue to work with partners like the Oxford Police Department, the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit, and ATF to ensure that those consequences exist for criminals in the Northern District of Mississippi.”

ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson echoed Joyner’s sentiment. “The sentence imposed today sends a message to the community that career criminals will be held accountable as we work to keep our neighborhoods safe,” Jackson said. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oxford Police Department, and the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Hampton prosecuted the case, which falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence.

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