A Meridian resident, Steven Wright, 30, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office discovered the firearm during a traffic stop while Wright was on state supervised release for a prior armed robbery conviction. As a result of the illegal possession, his state supervised release was revoked and he received an additional state sentence of 11 years and 175 days.
Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 4, 2025, and pleaded guilty to the charge on May 9, 2025.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the ATF announced the sentencing.
"This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)."
