Eugene Cooper, Jr., a resident of Jackson, pleaded guilty on March 25 in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case is significant as it highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement and federal agencies to address gun-related offenses by individuals with prior felony convictions.
According to court documents and statements made during the proceedings, law enforcement officers stopped Cooper, Jr., age 50, on March 13 while he was in possession of a handgun inside his vehicle in the metro Jackson area. At the time of the stop, Cooper had previous convictions for burglary and fondling of a child.
Cooper is scheduled for sentencing on June 25 and could face up to 15 years in prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff announced the plea. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with help from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham is prosecuting this case.
The prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative that brings together resources from various Department of Justice programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)—to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.
