Hattiesburg, Miss. - Alfred McCaskill, 25, of Hattiesburg, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
McCaskill has previous convictions in Forrest County for possession of a stolen firearm and possession of cocaine. On Feb. 27, 2019, while still on state probation, McCaskill was found in possession of a firearm during a traffic stop in Forrest County. He fled on foot and evaded law enforcement until his arrest in April 2019.
McCaskill was indicted on July 24, 2019, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty before Judge Starrett on Oct. 3, 2019. In adjudicating McCaskill’s sentence, Judge Starrett specifically indicated that his federal confinement would run consecutive to whatever confinement he receives related to his state charges.
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) and Project Guardian. 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. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
