Jackson Man Sentenced under Project EJECT to nearly Two Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

Jackson, Miss. – Mackee Donell Jefferson, 38, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee to 21 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi.

On September 14, 2018, Jefferson was waiting in a drive-through line of a fast food restaurant in Jackson.  After a long wait, Jefferson became irritated.  In an apparent attempt to accelerate his order, Jefferson approached the drive-thru window and tapped on the window with a handgun.  A restaurant employee called the Jackson Police Department and officers responded.  The officers approached Jefferson’s vehicle and questioned Jefferson while he was in his car.  Jefferson admitted to possessing a gun.  Jefferson has prior felony convictions for auto burglary in Rankin County and auto theft in Hinds County.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bert Carraway.

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). 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. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.