Christopher Douglas Showah, 51, of Indianola, was sentenced on July 29 to 96 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to three federal felonies. Chief United States District Court Judge Deborah M. Brown handed down the sentence in Greenville, Mississippi.
According to court documents and admissions made at Showah’s change of plea hearing, he pleaded guilty to possession of firearms by a convicted felon, flying without a valid airman’s certificate, and fraud relating to maintenance work performed on an aircraft donated to Delta State University for their aviation program.
Showah was initially investigated by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General after continuing to fly following an emergency order from the Federal Aviation Administration suspending his airman’s certificate. Investigators discovered that Showah also performed airplane mechanic work for M&D Aviation without proper certification and conducted inspections and maintenance on an aircraft later donated for use by students at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi.
Federal agents executed a search warrant at Showah’s hangar, residence, and shop with assistance from the Mississippi Agricultural & Livestock Theft Bureau. During the search, agents seized almost forty firearms. Due to previous felony convictions in Sunflower and Sharkey Counties in Mississippi, Showah was prohibited under federal law from possessing any firearms.
United States Attorney Scott Leary said, “Law enforcement responsibilities often involve issues of public safety. The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the Mississippi Agricultural & Livestock Theft Bureau, and the ATF worked hard on this case, and the citizens of the Northern District of Mississippi are safer because of their efforts. Thank you for your hard work.”
Joseph Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge with the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General’s Southern Region, said: “The defendant’s disregard for federal aviation safety requirements and decision to continue flying and performing aircraft maintenance without proper certification placed the public at real and unnecessary risk. The sentence handed down today reflects the seriousness of these violations and reinforces our commitment to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to protect the safety and integrity of the nation’s airspace and the communities we serve.”
ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson said: “In our effort to disrupt violent gun crime in our community, ATF will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess firearms. The sentence imposed today sends a message that ATF will continue to work alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure these convicted felons are removed from our communities and held fully accountable so we can keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Herzog Jr. prosecuted this case.