Gulfport, Miss. - Johnathan J. Quarles, 26, of Gulfport, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi. Quarles was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.
On Dec. 26, 2019, Biloxi Police officers executed a search warrant on a Biloxi residence. Just outside the residence, they observed Johnathan Quarles, who was seated in his vehicle. Quarles saw officers and threw a bag of marijuana out of the car window. When the officers spoke with Quarles, they observed an unsheathed.9mm in his pocket. Quarles is an active user of narcotics and therefore not permitted to be in possession of a firearm.
Quarles was indicted on May 12, 2020 and he pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on Aug. 27, 2020.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
