CLINTON, MS – Stanley Cavett Jr., 35, of Clinton, Mississippi, is headed to federal prison for seven years after being convicted of illegally possessing a firearm. The sentence, handed down Monday, underscores the federal crackdown on repeat offenders and the ongoing effort to keep guns out of the hands of those legally prohibited from owning them.
The case began on November 4, 2019, when officers with the Clinton Police Department encountered Cavett and discovered he was carrying a firearm. Crucially, Cavett already had a rap sheet – multiple prior felony convictions that made firearm possession a federal offense. Federal law clearly prohibits convicted felons from owning or possessing guns.
Cavett ultimately pled guilty on January 6, 2023, to the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. While the plea avoided a potentially longer trial, it didn’t spare him from a substantial prison sentence. U.S. District Judge sentenced him to 84 months – seven years – in a federal correctional facility. The length of the sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and Cavett’s history.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Clinton Police Department. Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the ATF highlighted the importance of interagency cooperation in combating violent crime. The ATF’s New Orleans Field Division led the federal investigation.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca emphasized that this prosecution falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce violent crime through targeted enforcement and community-based prevention programs. PSN focuses on the most dangerous offenders and aims to create lasting reductions in crime by addressing both its symptoms and root causes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. While Cavett’s fate is sealed, the PSN program continues to work across the Southern District of Mississippi and nationwide, aiming to disrupt criminal activity and build safer communities. Details of the case can be found on the Department of Justice website, justice.gov/usao-sdms.
Related Federal Cases
- Daniel Mireles-Reyna, Stolen Gun Possession, MS, 2023 · Mississippi
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- Jermaine Franklin, Gun Possession, MS 2024 · Maine
- Courtney Kentrell Chapman, Gun Possession, MS 2024 · Mississippi
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