Natchez Man Sentenced for Theft of a Firearm

Natchez, Miss. – Kiandas Washington, 19, of Jackson, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette, III, to serve 13-months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for theft of a firearm from a licensed dealer, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On September 15, 2017, the Natchez Police Department responded to a larceny/shoplifting incident at Bowie Outfitters in Natchez. Two store clerks were attending to three individuals when they were distracted and one of the individuals removed a firearm, a Glock model 43, 9 mm caliber pistol, from a box that was sitting on the counter and placed the firearm in his pocket.

Natchez Police Department investigators reviewed the surveillance footage and were able to identify the individual who took the firearm as Kiandas Washington and his male companion. Later that same day, police investigators interviewed the male companion, who provided a statement in which he identified Kiandas Washington as the individual who stole the firearm. Washington was also interviewed by police investigators, and admitted to stealing the firearm. Washington then contacted another person who brought in the firearm and surrendered it to police investigators.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Southwest Mississippi Interdiction Narcotics Enforcement Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Keesha D. Middleton.