Reagan T. Fondren Acting United States Attorney for the Western District Of Tennessee | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee
A federal judge has sentenced Mekevin Woods, a 23-year-old from Bolivar, Tennessee, to 38 months in prison for possessing a machinegun conversion device. This announcement was made by Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr.
The incident leading to the arrest occurred on December 23, 2023. An officer from the Bolivar Police Department attempted to stop a gray 2022 Infiniti Q60. The driver refused to comply and led the officer on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour in a zone limited to 25 miles per hour. Eventually, Woods drove into oncoming traffic before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot with a firearm visible in his hand.
With assistance from a K-9 unit, officers arrested Woods and found him in possession of a Glock handgun loaded with an extended magazine containing 32 rounds and equipped with a machinegun conversion device. The vehicle he was driving was also identified as stolen from Memphis.
Woods is associated with TMO 45 gang, which consists of both adult and juvenile members involved in firearms and narcotics trafficking. The gang is linked to several shooting incidents within Fayette and Hardeman County areas.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Jackson Resident Agency; and the Bolivar Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christie Hopper prosecuted this case for the government.
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