Jackson Man Sentenced to over 2 years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Jackson, Miss. - A Jackson man was sentenced to 2 years and a month in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on October 11, 2021, Joshua Hart, 42, was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition by the Jackson Police Department when an officer approached his vehicle after observing it being driven erratically and suspiciously. Hart, a passenger in the vehicle, had a previous felony conviction for aggravated robbery out of the state of Texas and an outstanding warrant at the time of this stop. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Hart to possess ammunition or any firearm.

Hart was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 16, 2021. He pled guilty on September 9, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Jackson Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.