Court Sentences Mobile County Man For Possessing A Firearm As A Four Time Convicted Felon

MOBILE, AL - On April 16, 2026, United States District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Demarcus Jeremy Hodge to 61 months' imprisonment for Possession of a Firearm as a Convicted Felon.

Court documents show that on July 31, 2025, Hodge was stopped by the Mobile County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) for a traffic violation. A MCSO Deputy could smell the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle and asked HODGE to exit the vehicle. The deputy conducted a pat-down for officer safety and a loaded handgun was found in Hodge's waistband. Law enforcement searched the vehicle due to the strong smell of suspected marijuana. Two bags of marijuana and a set of digital scales, used for weighing drugs, were found in the vehicle.

A MCSO Narcotics Investigator arrived on scene and read Hodge Miranda warnings. Hodge advised that he understood his rights and agreed to speak with law enforcement officers. Hodge stated the marijuana was his and he forgot the gun was on him during the traffic stop. Hodge also admitted he was a convicted felon and knew he should not have a gun. Hodge added that he purchased the gun on the streets from a woman for $300.

An ATF Special Agent examined the firearm, a Sig Sauer, 9mm handgun, and determined it was not manufactured in the State of Alabama and thus affected interstate commerce by making its way into Alabama. At the time Hodge possessed the firearm, he had been previously convicted of the following felonies: Promoting Prison Contraband, on or about April 21, 2016, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, in case number CC-2015-006497; Receiving Stolen Property (Count 1) and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Count 2), on or about December 4, 2019, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, in case number CC-2019-002452; and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, on or about February 8, 2022, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, in case number CC-2020-002693. The firearm was determined to have been stolen from a man who resided in the State of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile County Sheriff's Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys George F. May and Galliard S. Ladd prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).