Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Jackson, Miss. – Jamarhi Raheem Lucas, 23, of Natchez, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette, III to 21 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Lucas was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.

On September 22, 2018, Jamarhi Raheem Lucas, who was one of two men standing outside of a residence on Ouachita Street in Natchez, attempted to flee from law enforcement officers as they approached him. Officers detained him and while they were identifying him, they observed a short-barreled, fully automatic rifle, commonly-known as a machine gun, in a car that belonged to him. Officer seized the short-barreled machine gun.

On March 5, 2020, Jamarhi Raheem Lucas pleaded guilty to illegally possessing the machine gun.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bert Carraway and Glenda Haynes.

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.

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