Jackson Man Sentenced Under Project EJECT to 18 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing Stolen Firearm

Jackson, Miss. – Tommy Robert Spells, also known as Thomas Spell, 32, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Carlton W. Reeves to 18 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 Christopher Freeze with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Spells was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

On July 24, 2018, Jackson Police officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Spells after he made an illegal U-turn at the intersection of Highway 80 and Robinson Street in Jackson.  Spells, a convicted felon, was found to be in possession of a Hi-Point .45 caliber pistol, which was later determined to be stolen.   Spells was previously convicted of statutory rape in Hinds County.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham.

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). 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. Former 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.