Grove Hill Man Sentenced to 102 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

MOBILE, AL - Zachary Quinton Howard Mercer of Grove Hill, Alabama, was sentenced to 102 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

According to court documents, on September 20, 2024, deputies with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) were notified of a stolen vehicle approaching the Alabama State line from Mississippi. The investigation showed that the driver, Mercer, stole the vehicle at a gas station in Biloxi, Mississippi. Local officers tried to stop Mercer, but he took law enforcement on a high-speed chase, crossing into Alabama. MCSO Deputies intercepted Mercer, who continued eastbound on I-10, reaching speeds of 120 miles per hour. Performing successful Pursuit Intervention Techniques, deputies were able to ultimately bring Mercer to a stop. Mercer was found in the driver's seat of the stolen vehicle, with a loaded handgun in his lap. Mercer has multiple prior felony convictions including Aggravated Assault, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Theft of a Firearm, and Resisting Arrest. As a convicted felon, Mercer is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Mercer was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pleaded guilty to the charge. United States District Court Judge Kristi DuBose sentenced Mercer to 102 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearm.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sheriff's Office investigated the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing 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 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.