Repeat Federal Offender Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm under Project EJECT

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Jonas A. Windham, 37, of Laurel, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 13 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.  Windham was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

Windham’s 13-month sentence will be served consecutive to a 14-month sentence he was given for violating his federal probation in a previous case.  In 2013, Windham was convicted in the Southern District of Mississippi and sentenced to 78 months in prison for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. He was still on supervised release when he was arrested on June 18, 2019, for possession of two firearms during the execution of a search warrant at his residence. Windham pled guilty before Judge Starrett on October 2, 2019.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Laurel Police Department investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.