Two Cleveland men sentenced in federal case over convenience-store shootout

Federal prison time is now in place for two Cleveland men after a shootout at a convenience store near gas pumps, but the state case over the same gunfire is still pending in Bolivar County Circuit Court. Jamarcus Miller, 38, was sentenced to 80 months on May 20, 2026, and Jamario Hodges had already received 70 months in prison, plus three years of supervised release, in a separate federal proceeding.

The case grew out of a shooting in Cleveland, Mississippi, where video surveillance allegedly showed Miller and Hodges exchanging gunfire near the pumps before running off. Cleveland police recovered shell casings at the scene, and officers later located Hodges with a firearm fitted with a Glock switch, a device that converts a semi-automatic handgun to fully automatic. Miller pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition as a prior convicted felon, while Hodges pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

For Cleveland residents, the immediate effect is that one part of the case has been resolved with long federal prison terms, but the broader accountability question is not finished. Both men remain under state indictment in Bolivar County Circuit Court, meaning prosecutors can still pursue punishment under Mississippi law for the same shooting that unfolded in an everyday commercial space used by local drivers, families and workers.

U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary framed the case as a warning to violent offenders, saying they have no place in the Mississippi Delta. The sentence structure reflects how federal firearm cases can add another layer of pressure when convicted felons are found with guns, ammunition or modified weapons after a shooting that puts bystanders at risk.

The case also comes as federal authorities have kept a close eye on Cleveland. On March 25, 2026, a separate round of Cleveland firearms and drug indictments was announced as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation, underscoring a recent run of federal enforcement activity tied to the city. With Miller now sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Debra M. Brown and Hodges previously sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills, the federal portion is complete, but the state case remains the next test of accountability.