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Press Release
Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Patrick Emanuel Battle, Sr., 48, of Meridian, Mississippi, pled guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Carlton W. Reeves to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Dana Nichols, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On November 15, 2018, deputies with the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Battle’s home after they received information and pictures showing that Battle was in possession of multiple firearms. As a result of the search, five weapons, including a semi-automatic shotgun equipped with a large magazine, were found in Battle’s home. Battle has prior felony convictions for burglary of an automobile, possession of marijuana, and aggravated assault.
Battle was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 8th of 2019. He is currently in custody and will be sentenced on July 18, 2019, by Judge Reeves. Battle faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 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.