A man from Meridian, Mississippi, named Demetriz Romelo Hopson, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for the possession of a machinegun. The decision was announced in Jackson, Mississippi.
According to court documents, Hopson, 25, was found during a football game at Meridian High School in possession of a Glock 9mm handgun. The weapon was equipped with a "machinegun conversion device" or "switch." Hopson admitted to the charge on January 8, 2025.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The case was investigated by the ATF with help from the Meridian Schools Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff was responsible for prosecuting the case.
This case is part of "Operation Take Back America," a nationwide initiative aiming to combat illegal immigration, eradicate criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. The operation utilizes resources from the Department of Justice's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
