Greenville Felon Sentenced to Additional Prison Time for Drug Trafficking

OXFORD - A Greenville man was sentenced today for drug trafficking. Michael Lawrence Hunt, 45, previously pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

According to court documents, on September 11, 2024, Greenville Police Department discovered over 55 methamphetamine pills, along with other illegal substances, during a traffic stop. Hunt had previously been convicted of a felony before this incident.

Senior U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Hunt to 45 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Hunt was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following sentencing.

The Greenville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

United States Attorney Scott Leary emphasized that cheap drugs and drug trafficking have decimated communities in our state, and that methamphetamine is among the most dangerous. "Meth addiction is one of the hardest of addictions to overcome, often resulting in destroyed lives and families," states Leary. "Through continued diligence, our communities must be reclaimed for the hard-working Mississippians that live there. A special thanks to the Greenville Police Department for its continued dedication. By working together, the Greenville PD and the ATF are a model of what can be accomplished when federal and state law enforcement work together."

"The ATF is working closely with local, state and federal partners to combat the scourge of deadly illegal drugs in our communities" said ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. "The sentence imposed today sends a message that we will continue to focus efforts on repeat offenders so we can remove another violent criminal from our streets and keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for the ATF."

"We would first like to thank every agency involved in the success of this conviction," says Greenville Police Chief Marcus R. Turner. "Our mission is to maintain social order and provide professional law enforcement services to the citizens in the community. All available resources will continue to be used by the Greenville Police Department to pursue individuals that break the law."

Project Safe Neighborhood brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.