Jackson, Miss. – T’Quarius Jones, 21, of Jackson, Mississippi, has been charged with receipt of a firearm by a person under felony indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

On or about April 30, 2018, Jones was arrested for allegedly killing another man in Jackson by shooting him over 20 times with an AR15-style rifle.  Although initially detained, Jones was later released by Hinds County Circuit Judge Tomie Green on a $20,000 bond.

On or about May 16, 2019, Jones was indicted by a Hinds County Grand Jury charging him with First Degree Murder.  Jones was nonetheless allowed to remain free on a $20,000 bond by Hinds County Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten.  Judge Wooten also denied the local District Attorney’s request that the Defendant wear an ankle monitor.

On May 7, 2020, Jones was stopped by a Jackson Police Officer.   Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer saw a black handgun in his vehicle. When asked about the weapon, Jones stated that the gun was his.  That firearm, a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol, was purchased by Jones’s father on March 14, 2020.  Federal law prohibits individuals from receiving firearms while under indictment.

On May 27, 2020, the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office moved to revoke Jones’s bond. On or about June 19, 2020, Hinds County Circuit Judge Wooten denied the District Attorney’s Motion to Revoke Bond and allowed Jones to continue to remain free on $20,000 bond.

Jones is set to appear before Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball at 2:30 p.m. today.  Jones faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

The public is reminded that a criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Wansley.  

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.