Harrison County Man Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Gulfport, Miss – William Lance Chaney, 27, of Biloxi, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Chaney was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.    

During the course of an investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives discovered that Chaney was buying and selling firearms to known felons and Simon City Royals gang members.  Agents determined that Chaney offered at least three firearms for sale in March, 2018.  Chaney has a previous conviction for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in Harrison County in 2010 and is pending trial on a new drug charge in Harrison County.  He was on parole with MDOC at the time of the federal charge. 

Chaney pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on May 31, 2019 to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

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