Meridian Man Sentenced to Almost Two Years in Prison Under Project EJECT for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Jackson, Miss. – Corey Douglas Burt, 28, of Meridian, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 21 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Burt was also ordered to pay a $1,500.00 fine.

On April 18, 2019, the Meridian Police Department was called to a motel located on South Frontage Road in Meridian.  An officer responded to the scene and learned that motel staff were attempting to clean a room, but the door was locked and the person inside the room would not answer the door despite insistent knocking and verbal requests.  The MPD officer was eventually able to get the occupant, Corey Burt, to answer the door.

Burt, who is member of the Latin Kings criminal street gang, was not the guest registered in the room and he was unable or unwilling to tell the officer how he had gained access to the room or who had rented the room.  There was no one else in the room.  The officer noticed a .380 caliber pistol on a bedside table as he was checking the room.  Burt told the officer that he had gotten the gun from a friend. A check of the firearm revealed that it was reported stolen in 2017.  Further investigation revealed that Burt had a prior conviction for burglary in Lauderdale County and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

On July 24, 2019, Burt was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  He pled guilty before Judge Jordan on November 7, 2019.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham.