Pearl River County Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon

Gulfport, Miss. – Kirk Johnson, 43, of Pearl River County, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Johnson was found guilty of the felony offense and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on September 19, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. He faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

On October 18, 2018, Johnson, who had previously been convicted of possession of precursor chemicals in Pearl River Circuit Court, sold a loaded .22 caliber revolver to a confidential informant.

The case was investigated by agents from the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Carter.