Recently Released Felon Arrested for Drunk Driving Sentenced to 18 Months for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

Jackson, Miss. – Christopher Campbell, 30, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana K. Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On September 28, 2018, Campbell was found in possession of a firearm after he was stopped by officers for driving under the influence.  Campbell was previously convicted of felonious house burglary in Hinds County and was sentenced to serve twenty five years in the custody of Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) with eight of those years suspended.  Campbell was released from MDOC less than one year before being arrested for the current charge.

On December 12, 2018, Campbell was charged in a criminal indictment.  He pled guilty before Judge Reeves on February 13, 2019. 

This case is part of Project EJECT, a nationally-recognized initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness.  EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.”  PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Jackson Police Department investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.