ABERDEEN, MS – Derrick Stewart, Jr., 20, was sentenced on Tuesday afternoon to 10 years in prison for firearms trafficking and conspiracy to traffic firearms.
The investigation began after agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives noticed a high volume of firearms recovered in crimes in the city of Chicago, Illinois had been purchased in the Northern District of Mississippi. Some of the firearms involved in new crimes had been purchased as recent as one day prior to use in the new offense.
Several of the firearms were recovered in violent crimes and had machinegun devices attached that converted the firearms to be able to fire automatically. In total, investigators identified over 60 firearms that were purchased illegally and transported to Chicago for resale by Stewart and others.
On October 1, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Stewart, Jr. to 120 months in federal prison for the offenses to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Aycock imposed a 60-month sentence for the conspiracy violation to run consecutive to the 60-month sentence for firearms trafficking.
“Illegal firearms traffickers are some of the main drivers of violence in cities like Chicago, and disrupting these networks is central to curbing gun crime,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “AUSA Julie Addison is to be commended for leading this joint prosecution involving our federal, state, and local partners to disrupt the flow of guns to Chicago.”
“This defendant perpetuated violence as law enforcement recovered dozens of firearms he trafficked between Mississippi and the streets of Chicago,” commented ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of the Chicago Field Division. “We will continue to prioritize firearms trafficking investigations alongside the United States Attorney’s Office, holding accountable those who help to arm violent individuals.”
The case was investigated by the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the ATF Oxford, Mississippi Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Howell Addison prosecuted the case.
