A Mississippi man arrested during a 2021 traffic stop in Vernon Parish has been sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm in federal court.

Michael O. Falcone, 41, of McComb, Miss., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr. to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

On Sept. 29, 2021, law enforcement officers with the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Falcone. Deputies said they observed Falcone with a knife that was visible on his person and multiple other knives in plain view in the vehicle and ultimately conducted a pat down search of Falcone.

The deputy found a fully loaded handgun magazine in Falcone’s outer front pocket.

A search warrant was obtained by law enforcement to search Falcone’s vehicle and inside deputies found a fully loaded Sig Sauer P365 handgun in the glovebox and a J.C. Higgins revolver located under the driver’s seat.

Falcone previously pleaded guilty to domestic abuse battery in 2012 and was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.

Falcone was indicted for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in April 2022 and pleaded guilty to the charge on July 7, 2022.