Sumrall Man Sentenced to Nearly 12 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms and an Unregistered Silencer

Hattiesburg, Miss. - Asa Jefferson Sanford, Jr., 61, of Sumrall, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to serve a total of 140 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of firearms and possessing a silencer which was not registered to Sanford in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Sanford was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.

On July 20, 2015, law enforcement officers executed state search warrants on Sanford’s vehicle and home. During the search, state and federal agents seized numerous firearms and ammunition in Sanford’s possession, as well as an unregistered silencer. Sanford has six prior felony convictions.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jefferson Davis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.