Pass Christian Man Pleads Guilty to being an Unlawful Narcotics User in Possession of a Firearm

Gulfport, Miss. –   Travis W. Fennel, 32, of Pass Christian, Mississippi, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of illegal narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and ATF Special-Agent-in-Charge Kurt Thielhorn. 

On October 14, 2019, a Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputy initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Fennel for speeding and following too closely.  The Deputy recovered a Rock Island M1911 .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun from Fennel who later admitted to being an unlawful user of illegal narcotics.   On May 12, 2020, Fennel was charged in a federal criminal indictment.

Fennel will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on October 29, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.