Gulfport, Miss. - Kendell Jerome Smith, 35, of Biloxi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to a total of 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute and 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 (ATF). Smith was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and forfeit a firearm and ammunition that he had possessed. Smith pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on Jan. 31, 2019.
In 2017, in the Biloxi Police Department received community complaints about alleged drug activity at a house occupied by Smith and his girlfriend. In July 2017, detectives conducted surveillance on the house, and on July 28, 2017, detectives conducted a traffic stop on Smith and found about 30 grams of fresh marijuana. A search warrant was obtained, and a search of the home shared by Smith and his girlfriend revealed several baggies containing marijuana, other items indicating drug trafficking activity, and $2,514 in cash. Two loaded handguns were also found.
Further investigation revealed that Smith’s participation in a conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute lasted from July 2017 to July 2018. Smith was previously convicted of a felony drug offense, and was on state parole at the time of his arrest in July 2017.
U.S. Attorney Hurst commended the coordinated investigation by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Biloxi Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
