Jackson, MS - A Mississippi man was sentenced on July 2, 2026, to 27 months for illegally buying and selling firearms that were later resold and subsequently recovered at multiple crime scenes.

According to court documents, between March 15, 2022, and July 27, 2023, Jonathan Levon Warner, 28, of Jackson, Mississippi, purchased at least 33 firearms, primarily Glocks, at gun stores and shows in the Southern District of Mississippi and elsewhere. Warner and another individual purchased these firearms to resell for profit to an individual from Chicago. Neither Warner nor the other individual possessed a federal firearms license to resell the guns. The individual from Chicago would travel to Jackson, Mississippi to purchase the firearms and pay Warner with cash or send him money using Cashapp. Nine firearms that Warner purchased and later resold were recovered in the Chicago area by law enforcement. At least five of the firearms were recovered by law enforcement during suspected crimes; three of which were recovered from individuals who could not lawfully possess a firearm, i.e., did not possess a Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card or Concealed Carry License (CCL), or were convicted felons. Six of the nine firearms were recovered in the Chicago area within nine months or less of the purchase date.

According to court documents, Warner admitted to law enforcement that he sold approximately 20 but no more than 40 firearms to the individual from Chicago. Warner also admitted that he would make a profit of $200 to $300 per firearm. Warner plead guilty on April 7 to the unlicensed firearms dealing charge.

"The illegal sale of firearms often arms the most dangerous criminals in our communities and directly contributes to ongoing violence," said United States Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger. "I commend the Special Agents of ATF and our prosecutors for holding Warner accountable."

"This defendant's actions showed a complete disregard for public safety - illegally buying and selling guns without a license to individuals and convicted felons that resulted in violent crime incidents in Chicago," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Denham. "ATF will continue to work alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office to ensure these offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable with significant sentences to be served in prison."

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Denham of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.

The ATF investigated this case.

Trial Attorney Lakeita Rox-Love and Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson of the Criminal Division's Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amber Jones and Matt Allen for the Southern District of Mississippi prosecuted the case.