Semiautomatic Rifles, 100-Round Drum Magazine, Handguns Result in Almost 8 Years in Prison for Convicted Felon

Jackson, Miss. – Montavious Johnson, 25, of Ridgeland, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 94 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of multiple firearms and a 100-round drum magazine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Johnson was arrested on September 11, 2018, as part of a joint operation by the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, the Richland Police Department, the DEA and ATF. After arresting Johnson for the sale of heroin, officers executed a search warrant at the apartment in Jackson where Johnson was staying. Numerous firearms were recovered, including two AR-15 semiautomatic rifles and four pistols. Johnson also had a 100-round high capacity magazine loaded in one of the AR-15’s.

Johnson had previously been convicted of state felony offenses in both Madison and Hinds County, Mississippi. At the time of his arrest, Johnson was on parole from prior state convictions and was wearing an ankle monitor. Johnson pled guilty before Judge Wingate on April 26, 2019.

The case was investigated by the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department, the Richland Police Department, the DEA, and the ATF. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dave Fulcher.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an 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 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.