A Hattiesburg resident has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Documents reveal Scotty James Conley, age 40, was found in possession of a firearm by the Forrest County Sheriff's Office following a report of a residential disturbance. Conley has a previous felony conviction dating back to 2008 for sexual battery of a minor under the age of 14, which forbids him from legally possessing a firearm.
On January 10, 2023, Conley faced a federal grand jury which led to his indictment. He subsequently pled guilty on January 27, 2025. "Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement."
The investigation into the case was conducted by both the FBI and the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen.
"This case is part of Operation Take Back America," a national initiative that utilizes the resources of the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. The operation seeks to enhance coordination among the Department of Justice’s resources and efforts, including the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.