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Johnny Jerome Morgan, 38, of Jackson, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Henry T. Wingate to 92 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi. Morgan was also ordered to pay a $1,500.00 fine.
On December 30, 2018, Jackson police officers responded to a call from a woman requiring assistance to enter her residence to retrieve her belongings. The woman needed police assistance because her boyfriend, Johnny Jerome Morgan, was inside and she was afraid that he might hurt her when he realized she was leaving. The woman alerted the officers that Morgan was a convicted felon and had an assault rifle inside the residence. Morgan was inside the residence when police entered and found the assault rifle. Morgan denied owning or possessing the rifle, but evidence in the form of pictures, witness statements and a recorded phone call all indicated that Morgan purchased the rifle a few years earlier.
Morgan has prior felony convictions for credit card fraud and felon in possession of a firearm. He was indicted on April 3, 2019 and pled guilty before Judge Wingate on July 18, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham.
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) and Project Guardian. 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. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
