Jones County Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Multiple Firearms under Project EJECT

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Jacob Daniel Williams, 26, of Laurel, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Taylor B. McNeel to being a felon in possession of multiple firearms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”).

On October 19, 2019, Williams was found in possession of four firearms while passing through a checkpoint being operated by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.  The firearms included three shotguns and a pistol.  Williams had been convicted of drug possession felonies in Jones County in 2016.

Williams was originally indicted for this offense on June 23, 2020.  He will be sentenced before Judge McNeel on June 23, 2021.

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.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jones County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.