Biloxi Man Sentenced to 30 Years as Habitual Offender in Drug Case

Biloxi, MS (BuzzReport) — A Biloxi man has been sentenced to decades in prison following his conviction on multiple drug-related charges, court officials confirmed this week.

Andrew McCormick, 55, was sentenced Thursday by Circuit Court Judge Lisa P. Dodson after being found guilty in February 2026 on two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Sentencing in the case had been postponed until this week.

According to court records and testimony presented during sentencing, McCormick has an extensive criminal history, including prior convictions for grand larceny, escape, and possession of a controlled substance. Officials with the Mississippi Department of Corrections confirmed that McCormick previously served a 20-year prison sentence before being released in June 2020.

Prosecutors said McCormick was arrested in connection with the current charges in November 2021—just over a year after his release.

Judge Dodson ruled that McCormick qualified as an enhanced habitual offender under Mississippi law. As a result, she imposed a 30-year sentence to be served day-for-day in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, without the possibility of parole or early release.

District Attorney W. Crosby Parker emphasized the significance of the sentence, citing McCormick’s repeated criminal behavior.

“This defendant’s criminal history reflects not only multiple prior felony convictions, but more importantly, a continued pattern of dangerous criminal conduct despite those convictions,” Parker said. “The Court’s imposition of a 30-year day-for-day sentence underscores the shared commitment of our community, law enforcement, and judiciary to protecting public safety.”

Trial testimony revealed that the case stemmed from a traffic stop conducted by the Biloxi Police Department on November 10, 2021, near the intersection of Caillavet Street and Division Street. Officers initially stopped McCormick for speeding.

Upon approaching the vehicle, an officer reported smelling marijuana. Authorities said McCormick initially refused to exit the vehicle and requested a supervisor. After a supervisor arrived, officers removed him from the vehicle and took him into custody for failure to comply.

A subsequent search of McCormick uncovered multiple controlled substances concealed in his underwear, including crack cocaine, marijuana, and 12 individually packaged bags of synthetic marijuana, commonly known as “spice,” marked with a distinct eight-ball logo.

Investigators also searched the vehicle and located additional unused packaging materials consistent with those found on McCormick, including bags bearing a red bulldog logo.

An expert from the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory testified that the seized narcotics included approximately eight grams of crack cocaine and about 10 grams of synthetic marijuana.

Authorities said the packaging and quantity of the drugs were consistent with distribution rather than personal use, supporting the charges that ultimately led to McCormick’s conviction and lengthy sentence.