Press Releases
Title
September 8, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dunn Lampton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced that Ryan Mack pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Jackson today to two federal firearms charges arising from his shooting another student on the campus of Jackson State University on August 26, 2005.
Mack pled guilty to one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, which carries a maximum possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a possible fine of $250,000, and to one count of Possession of a Firearm with an obliterated serial number, which carries a maximum possible sentence of up to 5 years in prison and a possible fine of $250,000. Mack was previously convicted of the felony offense of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute in Hinds County Circuit Court in 1998.
Mack brought the firearm used in the shooting onto the Jackson State University campus where he shot another student inside of the student union. The serial number and other identifying marks had been obliterated from the pistol, a Smith & Wesson 9 millimeter semi-automatic handgun.
U.S. Attorney Lampton said, “Our office will prosecute convicted felons with firearms vigorously and to the fullest extent of the law, particularly when they bring guns onto school property. Criminals need to know that ‘Gun crime equals Federal Time.’ We will ask the Court at sentencing to impose the maximum possible sentence allowed.”
Mack entered an “open plea” meaning that there was no plea agreement with the government concerning any possible recommended sentence.
Mack will be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Tom Lee on December 15, 2006, at 9:00 a.m.
