A Mississippi man was sentenced Monday to 51 month years in prison for traveling to Alabama with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, in October 2023, Dennis Scott, Jr. pled guilty to traveling from Mississippi to Alabama to engage in commercial sex with a minor and to possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense.

In October 2022, the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Task Force, the Demopolis Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security were conducting an operation.

Scott responded to an online advertisement and began communicating with an undercover agent that Scott believed to be a 14 year old female. When Scott arrived at the meeting location, he was met by local and federal law enforcement.

Scott, who was previously convicted of a felony and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm, possessed a firearm at the time of his arrest.

On Monday United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Scott to 51 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons. The term of imprisonment will be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Department of Homeland Security, the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Task Force, and the Demopolis Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kacey Chappelear and Beth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.