Jonathan D. Ross U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas
A former U.S. Navy member, James Charles Hart, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for firearm possession. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and handed down by United States District Court Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.
Hart, 26, from Wynne, was initially arrested on December 7, 2023. He faced charges on January 9, 2024, for possession of a firearm by a dishonorably discharged person. A superseding indictment on July 2, 2024, added charges of possession of an unregistered firearm. Hart pled guilty to the initial charge on January 6, 2025.
In addition to his prison term of 144 months, Hart received a sentence of three years’ supervised release. The federal system does not allow parole.
Hart's discharge from the U.S. Navy occurred on August 26, 2021. His convictions included advocating supremacist ideologies and selling firearms without a license. During his court martial proceedings, he admitted that his statements were serious and not made in jest.
The FBI's investigation revealed that on April 2, 2023, Hart entered a neighborhood with tactical gear and weapons under the pretense of protecting against looters without being asked by residents.
Upon arrest on December 7, FBI agents found a firearm associated with him while he was in another person's car. A search of his personal car and residence uncovered a total of twenty firearms along with ammunition and tactical equipment.
Further examination of Hart’s phone revealed plans for a robbery conspiracy involving members of a militia targeting Tennessee.
The case was investigated by the FBI with support from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Crews.
