Poplarville Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful User of Controlled Substances

Gulfport, Miss. –  A Poplarville man was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Bobby Joseph Crochet, Jr., 24, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court documents, On December 26, 2021, Hancock County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a call of a subject sleeping in a vehicle, which was in the roadway near 30285 Highway 603 in Hancock County, Mississippi. Upon arrival, Deputies located Bobby Joseph Crochet, Jr., asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle, while in drive, while in the roadway. Deputies instructed Crochet to exit the vehicle and ultimately located methamphetamine and working digital scales concealed inside the driver’s door pocket.

Deputies searched Crochet’s home and found multiple unused, clear sandwich baggies, drug paraphernalia, a Beretta APX 9mm handgun (loaded), more methamphetamine, and marijuana. 

Crochet was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 5, 2022.  He pled guilty on July 15, 2022, to possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances. 

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.