Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to court documents, Nigel Payton, 40, was found in possession of a firearm by a Jackson Police officer on September 28, 2021. Payton has a prior felony conviction for manslaughter in Hinds County and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.  On February 23, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Payton for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

Payton will be sentenced on August 2, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Jackson Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Terrill.

This case is 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.