DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Southern District of Mississippi

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Darren J. LaMarca
, United States Attorney

Vicksburg Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon

Jackson, Miss – Darren Antonyo Mazie, 35, of Vicksburg, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kristi H. Johnson to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.

On March 28, 2020, at 3:30 a.m., Mazie was driving during a city-wide curfew when he encountered a Vicksburg Police officer at an intersection. Mazie motioned for the officer’s assistance. The officer approached Mazie’s car and observed a firearm on the front passenger seat.  For safety purposes, the officer secured the firearm with Mazie’s permission.  Mazie told the officer that just moments earlier someone shot at his house and that he was out looking for that person.  However, 911 received no reports of a shooting.  The officer followed Mazie to his home to investigate and there the officer learned Mazie was a convicted felon.

Mazie was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 9, 2020, for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  Mazie is currently in custody and will be sentenced on by Judge Johnson on June 9, 2021.  He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

This case was investigated by the Vicksburg Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bert Carraway.

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New Orleans Field Division