A Hattiesburg man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
25-year-old Jamarquis Vasean Tate pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.
According to court records, on December 3, 2021, Tate was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by the Hattiesburg Police Department after a reported disturbance at an area hotel.
He fled from the vehicle, and an officer chased and caught Tate on foot. During the chase, Tate discarded a firearm, which was observed by the officer and recorded on video. He was detained and the firearm was recovered.
Tate has a previous felony conviction, and it is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
Tate is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4, 2023, and he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The ATF and Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting.
