Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Gulfport, Miss – Ronald David Barker, 40, of Gulfport, entered a guilty plea today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Barker faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the firearm charge. He further faces fines of up to $250,000 along with 3 years of supervised release. He will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on December 3, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.

Barker was previously convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in 2008, in New Orleans. On December 30, 2016, Barker pawned a rifle in Harrison County, Mississippi. On January 4, 2017, the owner noticed the firearm was missing and reported it stolen. Harrison County Sheriff’s Department enforcement discovered Barker had pawned it and that he was a convicted felon on supervised release for his prior felony.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.