Zachary Quinton Howard Mercer of Grove Hill, Alabama, was sentenced on May 5 to 102 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address violent crime and gun offenses. Authorities say that reducing gun violence is a key priority in making communities safer.
According to court documents, deputies with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office were alerted on September 20, 2024, about a stolen vehicle heading toward Alabama from Mississippi. Investigators determined that Mercer had stolen the car at a gas station in Biloxi, Mississippi. Officers attempted to stop him, but Mercer led them on a high-speed chase into Alabama, reaching speeds up to 120 miles per hour before being stopped using Pursuit Intervention Techniques. When apprehended, Mercer was found in the driver’s seat with a loaded handgun in his lap. As someone with multiple prior felony convictions—including aggravated assault and theft of a firearm—Mercer is barred from possessing firearms.
Mercer pleaded guilty after being indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Court Judge Kristi DuBose imposed the sentence of over eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime through collaboration between all levels of law enforcement and community organizations.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama prosecutes federal crimes and handles civil litigation on behalf of the United States while partnering with law enforcement agencies to safeguard its district and enhance community well-being through outreach efforts; it also bolsters public trust in the judicial system, according to the official website.
