Shaw man sentenced to prison for illegal firearm possession while selling drugs

Aberdeen, MS - A Shaw man was sentenced today to more than seven years in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.

According to court documents, Javarrea Gilford, 31, had been observed selling drugs from a parked car outside of a convenience store in Shaw, Mississippi. When Gilford drove away, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop to investigate the suspected drug trafficking. Gilford fled from officers, wrecking his car in the process. When Gilford ran from the scene of the wreck, law enforcement observed him toss a 9mm pistol into the brush and the officers immediately recovered the gun. Investigating officers also found illegal narcotics in Gilford's vehicle. Gilford is a previously convicted felon.

Gilford pled guilty in September 2024 to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The latter charge carries a mandatory sentence of five years consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Gilford was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock to a total of 87 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Gilford was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.

"The defendant is a previously convicted felon who has committed yet more crimes, and he has more than earned the sentence imposed by the Court," said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. "We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep criminals off of our streets and firearms out of their hands."

"This case demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement at every level to holding offenders accountable and ensuring the safety of our communities. The combined efforts of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Bolivar County Sheriff's Office, and federal partners highlight the importance of collaboration in combating violent crime and drug trafficking in our state. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the citizens of Mississippi and make our neighborhoods safer," said Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell.

This case was investigated by the Bolivar County Sheriff's Office and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

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.