Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Gulfport, Miss – Joseph Towner, Jr., was sentenced to a total of 32 years following his March guilty pleas to two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, robbery, by District Judge Sul Ozerden, Acting U. S. Attorney Harold H. Brittain announced today.

Towner, 32 of Gulfport, Mississippi, was sentenced to 84 months- 7 years in prison on the first count and 300 months- 25 years on the second count for a total of 32 years. Towner’s sentences are ordered to be served consecutively to each other and also consecutive to the 8 years he is currently serving in the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Towner is ordered to pay restitution while in prison to Dollar General, Family Dollar and an individual for a total of $13,926.13. Once the restitution is paid, Towner is ordered to pay a fine of $20,000. When released from prison he will be on supervised release for 5 years. The charges stem from a series of armed robberies of Dollar General and Family Dollar stores in Long Beach, Gulfport, D’Iberville and Biloxi in 2014.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives along with D’Iberville, Biloxi, Long Beach and Gulfport Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.

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