The U.S. Attorney’s office held a press conference Tuesday to announce the expansion of an iniative to combat violent crime in the greater Hattiesburg area called “Project EJECT.”
The announcement was held in conjunction with officials from the Hattiesburg Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Originally launched in December 2017 in Jackson under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods ("PSN") initiative, Project EJECT is designed as an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates decades of experience in bringing various levels of law enforcement together with stakeholders in the community, with the overall goal of producing a long-term, meaningful reduction in and prevention of violent crime.
In expanding the initiative into other parts of the Southern District of Mississippi, Project EJECT will now stand for: "Empower Justice Expel Crime Together."
Joined by law enforcement, community, faith-based, non-profit, and business leaders in Hattiesburg, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst described the project as a multi-disciplinary, holistic approach that combines law enforcement arrests and prosecutions of violent criminals with prevention efforts, rehabilitation and reentry, educational initiatives, and improved communication.
"By empowering our neighbors, our churches, our schools, our businesses, and others, we will achieve justice,” said Hurst. “By expelling crime, we will make Hattiesburg safer. By working together, we will benefit all.”
Hattiesburg Police Chief Anthony Parker said he was excited about the program focusing on Hattiesburg.
“Joining forces with multiple agencies and our federal partners only allows us to expand our reach as well as use a great deal of more resources in our tool belt,” he said.
The initiative targets the most violent criminals, the ones who show no respect for human life, it targets the criminals who continue to commit crimes, after being arrested and bonding out of jail, said Parker.
“It is a goal of the Hattiesburg Police Department, to preserve the quality of life that citizens of Hattiesburg have come to expect and deserve, this is just another tool that we’re going to use to combat crime,”he said. “Hattiesburg is a very safe city, and we’re going to work to make it even safer.”
For Hurst, the message is simple.
"The message to violent criminals in Hattiesburg is simple - if you violate our laws and terrorize our neighborhoods, you will be ejected from our community,” he said. “In the federal system, we will immediately lock you up, we will move to detain you without bond, and you will serve a significant prison sentence without parole.”
Hurst said there is also hope.
“If you break the law and are ejected, there is grace on the other side. After you serve your sentence, choose to be rehabilitated, follow the law, and re-enter society as a law-abiding citizen. The ultimate goal of Project EJECT is a safer Mississippi for everyone.”
Under the program – for the first time ever – the U.S. Attorney’s Office is specifically dedicating an Assistant United States Attorney in Jackson to prosecute violent crime in the City of Hattiesburg under this project.
“When criminals actively engage in violent drug and firearms crime in our communities, ATF will use all its resources to stop them," said Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols, ATF New Orleans Field Division. "One resource is ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Centers. These CGICs, in partnership with law enforcement, help identify active armed violent offenders for investigation to stop the violence. Make no mistake, ATF is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep our neighborhoods safe and take those individuals off our streets who would do harm to our citizens.”
Hurst also announced Tuesday the indictment and arrest of seven defendants under Project EJECT in and around Hattiesburg:
n Jerry Ingram, 59, of Hattiesburg - charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
n Christopher Harper, 40, of Hattiesburg - charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
n Randy Chavis, 27, of Lumberton - charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and use of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime;
n Adrian Parker, 37, of Hattiesburg - charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
n Mike Smith, 41, of Hattiesburg - charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
n Lydia Walters, 34, of Hattiesburg - charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
n Jessie Hunter, 29, of Hattiesburg - charged with sale of firearm to a convicted felon.
In expanding Project EJECT into Hattiesburg, the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to lead the Project with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Criminal Chief Courtney Coker guiding the taskforce.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Eichner in Jackson will serve as the primary prosecutor for violent cases.
