Memphis man pleads guilty to firearm charge after arrest in Mississippi County

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — A Tennessee man pled guilty to a firearm charge after being arrested in Mississippi County.

According to a release from the United States Attorney's Office, Demarcus M. Fleming, 25, of Memphis, pled guilty to one felony count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He appeared before United States District Judge Ronnie L. White

According to a written guilty plea agreement, on May 19, 2018, Fleming was stopped in Mississippi County by Missouri State Highway Patrol due to a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, the officer noticed the strong smell of raw marijuana coming from the car and Fleming’s person. The officer searched the car, based on the smell of marijuana.

Inside the trunk of the vehicle, the officer found a black suitcase which held a mason jar containing about 145 grams of marijuana and a Glock, .40 caliber pistol. The pistol was loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber.

Fleming’s sentencing is set for Nov. 18. Fleming faces a maximum punishment of not more than life and a $250,000 fine. The minimum punishment faced by Fleming is five years imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. United States Attorney Keith D. Sorrell handled the prosecution for the Government.