Jackson Man Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison under Project EJECT

Jackson, Miss. – Marcus Reese, 38, of Jackson, was sentenced today, by United States District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III, to 57 months in federal 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 Dana Nichols of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Reese was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.

In September 2016, Reese was arrested for selling illegal drugs and possessing drug paraphernalia and drug proceeds. He spent only a few days in jail before being released on bond.

Within months, in February 2017, Reese was again arrested for selling illegal drugs from his home. Both illegal drugs and a loaded pistol were found in his living room. He again spent only a few days in jail before being released on bond.

Not long after, in September 2017, law enforcement officers attempted to execute a search warrant at Reese’s apartment on O’Bannon Street due to continuing illegal drug activity. As officers approached the apartment, Reese fled on foot through his apartment and out the back door. Officers ultimately stopped Reese and arrested him. Reese had a loaded Taurus .357 revolver and additional rounds of ammunition in his pants pocket. He had illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, and several thousand dollars in drug proceeds and counterfeit money in his home. Officers also collected ammunition and illegal drugs from Reese’s car, a vehicle from which he sold illegal drugs.

Reese has a previous conviction in Hinds County, Mississippi, for the felony offense of conspiracy to commit murder.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jackson Police Department. It 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). 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 a 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.

U.S. Attorney Hurst commended the work of the Jackson Police Department and their cooperation with ATF agents and Project EJECT task force members in the investigation of this case.