Hancock County Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Charges

Gulfport, Miss – Charles Keith Mueller, 34, of Hancock County, entered a guilty plea today, before U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On March 30, 2018, Hancock County Deputies pulled over the car Mueller was driving and found marijuana, Alprazolam, cocaine and several baggies of methamphetamine in a book bag with scales and a gun. Mueller has 2008 felony convictions for transfer of a controlled substance and jail escape in Hancock County.  When arrested on federal charges for the March 30, 2018, incident, Mueller was found in bed asleep with a loaded gun under the pillow. 

Mueller faces a minimum of 5 years to life years in prison for the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking charge and a consecutive maximum of 10 years for the felon in possession of a firearm charge.  He further faces fines up to $250,000 along with not more than 5 years of supervised release.  He will be sentenced by Judge Guirola on June 11, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. 

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