A Starkville man has been sentenced to almost four years in federal prison following his conviction for possession of a firearm by a prior convicted felon.
According to court documents, Lasang Kemp, 38, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a Taurus 9mm handgun and a Zastava 5.56mm handgun in Starkville on March 4, 2021. Kemp, who pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, was sentenced today in Greenville by Chief U.S. District Judge Debra Brown to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
“Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals will always be a priority for this office,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “The FBI and our local partners deserve our thanks for ensuring this successful prosecution.”
“Mr. Kemp’s sentencing should serve as a warning to those bad actors who unlawfully possess firearms,” remarked FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners, through impactful programs such as Project Safe Neighborhoods, will continue to identify, investigate, and deliver justice to anyone violating federal laws designed to protect our communities.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Starkville Police Department, and the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department.
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.
