Meridian Man Sentenced to Over 4 Years in Prison Under Project EJECT for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
Jackson, Miss. – Edmond Dewayne Miller, 23, of Meridian, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III, to 51 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 LaMarca and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi. Miller was also ordered to pay a $1,500.00 fine.
On July 4th, 2019, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office responded to a noise complaint concerning loud music and multiple episodes of gunfire at Miller’s residence. Miller’s neighbors told the deputies that there had been consistent gunfire over a period of several days. One neighbor said that he had heard bullets pass near him while he was on his tractor in a pasture that bordered Miller’s property.
Two deputies went to Miller’s residence and spoke with him concerning the loud music and gunfire. The deputies cautioned Miller concerning the use of firearms in the area of other houses and asked him to turn down the music. At that time the deputies were unaware that Miller had a prior felony conviction for Aggravated Assault. Miller agreed to turn down the music and indicated he would be more careful where he and his friends and family fired their weapons.
After leaving Miller’s residence the deputies were contacted by the same neighbors who told them that the music had been turned back up. One deputy returned to Miller’s residence and found Miller heading through the wood line in the direction of the complaining neighbor’s residence with a .40 caliber pistol in his waistband. The deputy stopped Miller and took custody of the firearm.
The deputies soon discovered that the firearm was stolen and that Miller was a convicted felon.
Miller was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 6, 2019. He pled guilty before Judge Jordan on January 7, 2020.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was 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.
