Jackson Man Sentenced to Almost Five Years in Prison under Project EJECT for Illegally Possessing a Gun

Jackson, Miss. – Travis Cortez Lewis, 30, of Jackson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a convicted 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.  Lewis was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

On May 13, 2018, officers with the Jackson Police Department arrested Travis Cortez Lewis on a pending warrant and found him in possession of a firearm.  Upon questioning, Lewis admitted to purchasing the firearm and to being a convicted felon.  Lewis has prior convictions in Hinds County for cocaine possession and robbery. 

Lewis was charged in a federal criminal indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm.  He pled guilty before Judge Reeves on November 12, 2019.

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

This case is part of Project EJECT, 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) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.