Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

Gulfport, Miss. – Anthony Derrick Hayes, 57, of Gulfport, pled guilty yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On November 20, 2018, Hayes was stopped in a vehicle after agents learned that he was on his way to distribute oxycodone painkillers. Hayes refused to exit the vehicle and began fumbling with his waistband. Officers retrieved a pistol from his waistband. Hayes, who has multiple prior felony convictions, was transported to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center and began making a series of phone calls to other individuals to complete oxycodone transfer deals.

On January 25, 2019, Hayes was charged in a federal criminal indictment.

Hayes will be sentenced on August 22, 2019 by Judge Guirola, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.