Yellowhammer Times

A Mobile resident, Reginald Thompson, 50, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing follows an incident on August 18, 2024, when the Mobile Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at a local hotel. According to court documents, Thompson fired multiple rounds into the bathroom wall of his hotel room after claiming someone was attempting to break in. Surveillance footage later revealed that no one had approached the room prior to police arrival.

Thompson admitted to possessing the firearm despite having several previous felony convictions, which legally prohibit him from owning or handling firearms. In addition to his prison sentence, Thompson will serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration and must pay a $100 special assessment.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello for the Southern District of Alabama. The investigation involved both the Mobile Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice H. Blackwood prosecuted the case.

The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime through coordinated efforts involving programs such as the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).