Hattiesburg, Miss. - Joe Lamont Gholar, 45, formerly of Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Special Agent-in-Charge Dana Nichols, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen G. Azzam, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
On June 9, 2015, in Jefferson Davis County, agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration Hattiesburg High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) team served a search warrant at the home Gholar shared with two others. One of the two other residents of the home also was a convicted felon; but, was incarcerated at the time. Gholar was present during the search, and 35 rounds of.380 ammunition were found in Gholar’s room. A.380 caliber pistol was found in a vehicle for which Gholar was the only driver, and a shotgun and rifle belonging to Gholar also were found on the premises.
Previously, Gholar had been convicted in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, of felony possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Gholar admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Gholar will be sentenced by Judge Starrett on April 17, 2018 at 9:45 a.m., and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
