Hattiesburg Man Pleads Guilty under Project EJECT to Trafficking Methamphetamine

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Amos Blanks, 40, of Hattiesburg, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”).

On February 11, 2019, Blanks distributed approximately 224 grams of methamphetamine to another drug dealer, who then sold the drugs to an individual. Pursuant to forensic analysis by the DEA, the methamphetamine was determined to be 99% pure.

Blanks was indicted for this offense on January 15, 2020.  He will be sentenced by Judge Starrett on November 18, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.