Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Jackson, Miss. - A Jackson man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Joshua Hart, 42, was found in possession of a firearm following a traffic stop in Jackson on a vehicle 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 the stop. Ammunition was found in Hart's pant pocket, and the other two passengers in the vehicle informed law enforcement that Hart passed a firearm to the middle seat passenger when the officer initiated the stop. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Hart to possess ammunition or any firearm.

Hart will be sentenced on December 12, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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 FBI and the Jackson Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting 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.