Bryant Antonio Hester, 55, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for cocaine trafficking and having a handgun as a felon. The sentence was imposed Monday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills after Hester pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and illegal weapon possession.
Hester will spend 180 months in jail, followed by five years of supervised release. He was immediately remanded into the custody of the US Marshals Service.
“This defendant is a convicted felon who has once again committed crimes, and he has more than earned his sentence today,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to remove criminals from our streets and prevent them from illegally possessing firearms.”
The case emphasizes the dangers presented by repeat offenders, as well as law enforcement’s coordinated efforts to prevent drug and gun violence.
“The ATF is working closely with local and state police agencies to address firearm trafficking by convicted felons and the scourge of deadly drugs, including fentanyl, flooding our communities,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “Alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF is dedicated to pursuing and combating these criminals to prevent them from doing harm to our communities and neighborhoods.”
Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell also praised the collaborative effort. “Great work by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and all other agencies involved in bringing this case to justice,” said Tindell. “Thanks to these combined efforts, this dangerous criminal is off of our Mississippi streets.”
The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Office, the Cleveland Police Department, and the ATF worked together to conduct the investigation.
