Hattiesburg, Miss. - Travis Wright, 53, of Wayne County, pled guilty Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives,
On March 3, 2018, a Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper observed a 2000 Dodge Dakota pickup truck with a Missouri license plate traveling south on Mississippi Highway 145 at a high rate of speed. The Trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver of the truck, later identified as Travis Wright, ignored the Trooper’s attempt to stop him. Instead, he accelerated to speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. At one point during his attempt to evade law enforcement, Wright drove his truck northbound in the southbound lane against oncoming traffic. Wright eventually exited the highway and continued driving in a reckless manner until he ran into a barbed wire fence. Wright exited the truck, went to the rear of the vehicle, and began trying to remove a loaded.12 Gauge shotgun and a rifle. The Trooper commanded Wright to stop and show his hands. Wright ignored these commands and began to flee into the woods. The Trooper deployed his taser and was able to apprehend Wright after a short struggle. Officers later discovered that Wright has numerous prior convictions, including several convictions for burglary in Missouri. Wright was subsequently charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Wright will be sentenced by Judge Starrett on July 23, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Carter.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
