Nigel Payton, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Mississippi 2022

Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Nigel Payton, 40, a Jackson man, has pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to court documents, Payton was found in possession of a firearm by a Jackson Police officer on September 28, 2021. Payton has a prior felony conviction for manslaughter in Hinds County and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. On February 23, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Payton for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

Payton will be sentenced on August 2, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Jackson Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Terrill.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The violent crime reduction strategy, launched on May 26, 2021, strengthens PSN based on core principles such as fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Nigel Payton’s guilty plea serves as a reminder of the consequences of breaking the law. As the people of Jackson continue to grapple with violence and crime, it is essential that those who commit these crimes are held accountable.

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