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Press Release
Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Willie Tyrone Lott, 28, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William Barbour to 94 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. He was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. Lott pled guilty before Judge Barbour on May 8, 2018.
The case arose when the Jackson Police Department initiated a traffic stop on Lott’s vehicle on July 6, 2017. During the stop, it was discovered that Lott had outstanding warrants and he was placed under arrest. Incident to arrest, the police discovered hydrocodone, MDMA, and an AM-15, Caliber .223 rifle. The rifle had been reported stolen to the Jackson Police Department.
As a convicted felon, Lott was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. He was previously convicted of robbery, a state felony, in Madison County Circuit Court.
Project EJECT is an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime in Jackson through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for "Empower Jackson Expel Crime Together." PSN is program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Jackson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.