MERIDIAN, MS – Jonathan Lewis Jennings, 32, of Anniston, Alabama, will spend the next 26 years and 2 months behind bars after a federal jury convicted him of robbing two Mississippi businesses at gunpoint. Jennings received a 314-month sentence – 26 years and 2 months – handed down this week, capping a five-year investigation by the Meridian Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The robberies occurred on January 15, 2018, targeting a local liquor store and a convenience store in Meridian. Jennings, brandishing a firearm in each incident, made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. While initial evidence was collected by the Meridian Police Department, it was DNA analysis that first connected Jennings to the crimes. ATF agents then stepped in, bolstering the case with evidence confirming Jennings’ involvement, including indications he’d meticulously planned the heists.
The feds didn’t just nail Jennings for the robberies themselves. Because of a prior felony conviction, simply possessing the firearm used in the crimes was another federal offense. This layered the charges, ensuring a substantial sentence. The jury found Jennings guilty on December 12, 2022, after a full trial in U.S. District Court. He faced two counts of robbery, two counts of using or carrying a firearm in connection with crimes of violence, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the ATF announced the sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam T. Stuart and Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case, building a solid legal argument that convinced the jury of Jennings’ guilt. The sentence sends a clear message: armed robbery won’t be tolerated in Mississippi, and those who repeatedly break the law will face the full weight of federal prosecution.
This case wasn’t an isolated effort. Federal officials emphasized that the prosecution was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. PSN focuses on identifying and targeting the most dangerous offenders, while also investing in prevention and reentry programs – a long-term strategy aimed at breaking the cycle of violence. The program’s effectiveness, officials say, is rooted in a collaborative approach between federal, state, and local law enforcement.
Jennings will now begin serving his 314-month sentence in a federal correctional facility. While the investigation and trial spanned years, the outcome provides closure for the Meridian community and serves as a warning to others contemplating similar criminal activity. The ATF’s New Orleans Field Division oversaw the investigation, highlighting the agency’s commitment to combating violent crime across the region.
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