Robert Wilburn, a repeat offender, has been sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. The announcement was made by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The sentence was delivered by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.
The incident leading to Wilburn's conviction occurred on March 15, 2022. Deputies from the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle stopped on the roadside and found Wilburn asleep at the wheel. Upon waking him, deputies detected the smell of intoxicants and marijuana. A search revealed a Glock 43 firearm with a loaded magazine and one round in the chamber, alongside matching ammunition in the center console and an additional magazine in the glovebox. An open beer can and marijuana were also discovered in the vehicle.
Wilburn, aged 32 from Inverness, Mississippi, was indicted on February 9, 2023, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He was found guilty by a jury on August 21, 2024, after a two-day trial at the Jonesboro federal courthouse.
In addition to his prison term, Judge Rudofsky sentenced Wilburn to three years of supervised release. It is noted that there is no parole available in the federal system.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with support from the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin O’Leary and Katie Hinojosa prosecuted the case.