Jackson, Miss. - Adrian Charleston, 24, of Jackson, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 50 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kirk Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Charleston was also ordered to pay a $1500 fine.
On June 30, 2018, Jackson Police officers attempted to pull over a vehicle occupied by Charleston and others. The occupants fled from the officers before abandoning the vehicle in an alleyway. While leaving the alleyway, Charleston possessed a firearm and tried to hide the evidence by discarding the firearm in a dumpster. Shortly thereafter, Charleston was apprehended and the firearm was recovered. Charleston was previously convicted of manslaughter in Hinds County in 2013.
On Dec. 12, 2018, Charleston was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty before Judge Jordan on April 5, 2019.
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). 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. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Jackson Police Department investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
