Maurice Phillip Mitchell Sentenced to 10 Years for Gun Possession
Jacksonville, Florida – In a significant victory for public safety, U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Maurice Phillip Mitchell (32, Jacksonville) to 10 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. This conviction stems from a high-speed chase and subsequent arrest in the Lackawanna area of Jacksonville on February 29, 2016.
According to court documents, Mitchell was operating a minivan when a patrol officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) observed signs of intoxication and pursued him. Mitchell led the officer on a high-speed chase, ultimately crashing the vehicle into a tree. A second JSO patrol officer apprehended Mitchell after finding him hiding under an SUV in a nearby parking lot. Upon returning to the scene of the crash, officers found a firearm on the dashboard of the minivan.
As a previously convicted felon, Mitchell is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. The United States presented evidence at the sentencing hearing that Mitchell had attempted to obstruct justice by paying a third party to falsely testify on his behalf and by attempting to intimidate a witness during trial. He received a sentencing enhancement based on this evidence and an additional sentencing enhancement for reckless endangerment during his flight from police.
The case against Mitchell was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and Kelly Karase.
This case is another example of the Department of Justice’s commitment to reducing gun violence through the “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program – a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney Muldrow, along with Daryl R. McCrary, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Mitchell’s sentence serves as a reminder that the consequences for violating federal gun laws can be severe. The public can remain safe when individuals like Mitchell are held accountable for their actions.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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