Mendenhall Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Jackson, Miss.  – A Mendenhall man pled guilty today to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Koda Tye Williamson, 39, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a firearm by the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department during the execution of a search warrant on his home for narcotics distribution and illegal firearms possession. It is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. Williamson has previous felony convictions for manslaughter and methamphetamine possession.

Williamson is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Simpson County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.