Middle District of Georgia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Middle District of Georgia Receives $7.6+ Million in Public Safety GrantsRead the Press Release
Macon, Ga. – U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary announced today that the Justice Department is awarding more than $7.6 million to support public safety and community justice activities in the Middle District of Georgia. The grants, from the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will help build community capacity to curb violence, serve victims and youth, improve behavioral health response, expand officer safety and support evidence-based juvenile justice strategies.
“These grants address many of the greatest concerns our citizens have today, which boil down to safer communities for all,” said U.S. Attorney Leary. “This kind of support for our community and law enforcement partners’ efforts goes hand in hand with our focused efforts to reduce violence and hold the most violent offenders accountable.”
15 grants for local community, civic, government and law enforcement groups in the cities of Albany, Americus, Athens, Butler, Columbus, Macon, Thomasville, Tifton and Warner Robins were announced for the Middle District of Georgia, including but limited to:
- Area Committee to Improve Opportunities Now, Inc., based in Athens, received $784,194 to supports its 36-county program providing employment coaching and mentoring for young people before and after their release from the criminal justice system.
- This WORKS, Inc., in partnership with the Dougherty County School System in Albany, received a $999,524 grant to provide a schoolwide behavioral health program, including antiviolence education.
- The Muscogee County School District in Columbus received a $998,567 grant to support its efforts to prevent group-based retaliatory violence with programs supporting educators and law enforcement.
- Columbus received $119,951 to purchase items in support of its law enforcement, including four ballistic vests, 64 protective stab vests for jail personnel, two K-9 units and a community-wide early warning smart phone app for emergency notification.
- Macon-Bibb received $385,000 to expand its domestic violence unit with an additional investigator and prosecutor.
- The Taylor County School District in Butler received $999,952 to improve school safety and increase access to mental health care for students.
- Thomasville received $437,185 to launch a law enforcement and mental health co-responder program to assist with real-time responses to community crises.
Georgia received 89 awards totaling $148 million dollars. More information about the awards announced today can be found by visiting www.ojp.gov/funding/fy23awards.
“Everyone in this country deserves to be safe in their communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “That is why, in addition to continuing our efforts to identify and prosecute the most violent criminals, the Justice Department is putting every available resource to work to support the efforts of our law enforcement and community partners nationwide. This significant investment will go directly to state and local programs that support the victims of crime, support officer safety and wellness, build the public trust in law enforcement essential to public safety and help make all of our communities safer.”
The more than 3,700 OJP grants being awarded this fiscal year will support state, local and community-based efforts and evidence-based interventions that reduce violence, crime and recidivism while delivering treatment and services to those at-risk of justice system involvement. Funding will expand partnerships between criminal justice professionals and behavioral health experts, help people safely and successfully transition from confinement back to their communities, reach crime victims in underserved areas, steer young people away from justice system contact, improve the management of sex offenders and support a wide range of research and statistical activities that will help justice system professionals meet community safety challenges.
“Across the country, the Justice Department is working side-by-side with our partners in state and local law enforcement to combat violent crime by using our federal resources to amplify their work on the front lines,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The billions of dollars in grants announced today will augment those efforts and the tools law enforcement is using to curb violence, counter deadly drug abuse and promote safety and public trust. Together with our state and local partners, the Department will continue to do everything we can to protect the communities we all serve.”
“The Department of Justice is investing in community-based approaches to violence prevention, law enforcement health and wellness, Tribal courts, improved services for victims, research and data collection efforts, reentry programs and much more,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “The grants announced today further our commitment to working with our state, Tribal and local partners to increase public safety, build police-community trust, and ensure safe, healthy and just communities for all.”
“Every sector of our society — not only the justice system, but nonprofit and faith-based groups, local leaders, and advocates, and people with lived experience who serve as credible messengers — plays a critical role in ensuring public safety and public health,” said OJP Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon. “The Office of Justice Programs is proud to make these substantial investments in building community infrastructure and supporting communities as co-producers of safety and justice.”
Grants will support five major community safety and justice priorities:
- Awards totaling more than $1 billion will promote safety and strengthen trust, helping communities tackle the proliferation of gun violence in America and restore bonds of trust between community residents and the justice system. Grants will support innovative and evidence-based strategies designed to prevent and reduce violent crime, support the health and safety of law enforcement and public safety professionals, promote rehabilitation and reentry success, and address the rise in hate crimes across the country.
- More than $437 million in grant awards will accelerate justice system reforms designed to achieve equal justice and fair treatment for all. Grants will expand access to services among historically underserved and marginalized communities, reduce counterproductive involvement in the justice system, increase opportunities for diversion and build pathways to treatment for people with substance use and mental health disorders.
- Over $192 million will improve the fairness and effectiveness of the juvenile justice system by supporting developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive interventions for youth. Funding will ensure that young people are served at home in their communities whenever possible, are equipped to transition to a healthy adulthood free of crime and are protected from violence and abuse.
- More than $1.7 billion will expand access to victim services by investing in programs that provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive services to victims. Funding will support thousands of local victim assistance programs across the country and victim compensation programs in every state and U.S. territory, while helping these programs build their capacity to reach those disproportionately affected by crime and victimization.
- Over $418 million in awards will advance science and innovation to strengthen the base of knowledge that policymakers and practitioners can use to design and deploy effective community safety strategies. Awards will support research and data collection on a wide range of public safety issues, help maintain timely and accurate criminal history records, and improve the capacity of crime labs and forensic analysts to solve crimes, absolve the innocent and deliver justice to victims.
In addition, OJP will award more than $611 million to continue its support of other previously funded programs and congressionally directed spending.
Three Defendants Sentenced in Prison-Directed Armed Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – Three defendants involved in a lengthy and ongoing investigation into armed drug trafficking conducted out of jail facilities in Mexico and Georgia were sentenced for their crimes recently.
Cindy Stamey, 50, of Danielsville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after a federal jury found her guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of methamphetamine on Sept. 21, 2022. Christopher Wilson, 42, of Hull, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 55 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he previously pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on April 13, 2022. Laura Yazmine Garcia Guerro, aka “Yazmin Garcia,” aka “Yaz,” 30, a citizen of Mexico and a resident of Duluth, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine on July 13, 2021.
U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal handed down the sentences on Sept. 18. The defendants are not eligible for parole.
“These cases are the result of a lengthy and ongoing criminal investigation into armed methamphetamine trafficking in the Athens community with ties to prisoners and Mexican cartels, a dangerous mixture,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to applaud the tremendous efforts of law enforcement at the local, state and federal level to dismantle criminal networks plaguing our communities.”
The following co-defendants in related cases have been sentenced:
Bruce Hicks, a/k/a “Bruno,” a/k/a “Bruce Incc,” of Athens, was sentenced to serve 260 months in prison on Jan. 8, 2020, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Jan. 1, 2019;
Malcody Dinges aka “Cody” aka “Yes, Sir Cody,” 44, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison (to run consecutive to any state-imposed sentence) to be followed by three years of supervised release on May 12, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Dec. 16, 2021;
Adonias Sales Temaj aka “Alacran,” 29, a citizen of Guatemala and resident of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 210 months in prison on March 7, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 14;
Frankie Baza, of Gwinnett County, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 3, 2021, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Ervin Sales Temaj aka “Milton Aguilar,” 35, a citizen of Guatemala and resident of Norcross, was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 14, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 13, 2022;
Carrie Kasper, 32, of Athens, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison on July 10, after she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 15, 2021;
Jeris Dove aka “Jeris Southers,” 29, of Athens, was sentenced to serve 110 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on Jan. 20, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 18, 2021;
Justin Maddox, 45, of Athens, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison on Jan. 11, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 3, 2021; and
Katlyn Lackey, 22, of Commerce, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison on Jan. 12, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine May 12, 2022.
The following co-defendants are awaiting sentencing:
Brendan R. Gates, 38, of Commerce, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Sept. 21, 2022, and faces a maximum of life imprisonment. Sentencing will occur at a date determined by the Court; and
David Zavala, of Gordon County, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Dec. 11, 2020, and faces a maximum of life imprisonment. Sentencing for Zavala will occur at a date determined by the Court.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers in the Middle District of Georgia began investigating drug trafficking organizations operating from jail facilities in Mexico and Georgia in 2016, including inmates using social media and contraband cell phones to conduct and direct drug sales and move the drug proceeds to other members of the conspiracy. In 2018, federal agents learned that co-defendant Dinges was conducting drug deals using contraband cell phones while in custody at Wheeler Correctional facility. During the investigation, agents learned that Dinges was communicating with the co-defendants and others located in the Athens region about controlled substances; these individuals would travel to locations in Atlanta as directed by Dinges to receive methamphetamine and return to Athens to distribute the drugs. Dinges received a fee for brokering the deals. The drug trafficking organization was responsible for distributing more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine.
In March 2021, law enforcement conducted an undercover purchase of methamphetamine from “Carlos,” another incarcerated person in Mexico, who was suspected of providing large quantities of methamphetamine to the Athens-area including in Watkinsville, Georgia. "Carlos" directed Garcia Guerro to conduct the transaction at the El Indio Restaurant parking lot in Duluth. Garcia Guerro was arrested at the location point in possession of a gallon-size plastic bag of methamphetamine, nearly one kilogram. For more information about these cases, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/68-defendants-indicted-operation-wu-block-meth-heroin-investigation.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
These cases are being investigated by DEA Macon Resident Office, FBI Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Clarke County Sheriff's Office, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, Hart County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Department of Corrections and Northeast Regional Drug Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Jarrett is prosecuting the cases for the Government.
Southwest Georgia Resident Sentenced to Prison Resulting from Valdosta Armed Drug Distribution InvestigationRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Valdosta, Georgia, probationer with a lengthy criminal history who was found guilty by a federal jury on charges related to controlled substance distribution out of a Valdosta, Georgia, apartment complex was sentenced to prison recently.
Barry Kiya Daise, 45, of Valdosta, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release to be served concurrently with any probation revocation sentence in Brooks County Superior Court by Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on Sept. 21. Daise was convicted by a federal jury of one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of maintaining and using a drug involved premises on Oct. 6, 2022. Daise is not eligible for parole.
“Despite prior felony convictions involving guns and drug trafficking, the defendant continued to disregard the law by committing crimes that harm the community,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Defendants with long criminal records will face the possibility of federal prosecution for chronic illegal activity as we continue to partner with law enforcement to identify and hold repeat and violent offenders accountable.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Daise was identified as part of a larger investigation by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division into armed drug trafficking in August 2019. At the time, Daise was on probation for a prior state felony. Following several months of surveillance, a search warrant was executed at Daise’s West Hill Avenue apartment on Nov. 19, 2019. Inside, officers found a loaded firearm stolen from Tifton, Georgia, ammunition, 48 grams of powder cocaine, digital scales and evidence of crack-cocaine production. Daise’s cell phone contained messages about selling controlled substances, meeting at his apartment complex parking lot to conduct the transactions and photos of guns and drugs.
Daise has a lengthy criminal record with prior state felony convictions including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Lowndes County, Georgia, Superior Court and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Brooks County, Georgia, Superior Court. The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Special Operations Division and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sonja Profit and Robert McCullers prosecuted the case.
Athens, Georgia, Career Offender Sentenced to Prison for Federal CrimesRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – A federal career offender with a lengthy criminal history in the Athens community to include multiple aggravated assault and controlled substance convictions was sentenced to serve 18 years in federal prison this week after he admitted to drug trafficking charges.
Wayne L. McKinley, 36, of Athens, was sentenced as a career offender to serve 220 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of heroin and one count of distribution of cocaine before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on Sept. 18. McKinley is not eligible for parole.
“Federal prosecutors will not turn a blind eye to repeat criminal activity by violent offenders in Athens or elsewhere in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office will continue to collaborate with local law enforcement to hold repeat criminals accountable for their continued crimes.”
“Repeat offenders pose serious threats to public safety in our communities,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “McKinley’s history of continued criminal activity demonstrates his lack of concern for the welfare of others and his disregard for the law.”
According to court documents, FBI confidential informants contacted McKinley to purchase heroin and cocaine from him in May 2016. The informants agreed to meet McKinley at an apartment complex on Fourth Street in Athens. Under surveillance, McKinley sold the illegal drugs to the informants, and was taken into custody.
McKinley has prior criminal convictions in the Athens-Clarke County community for aggravated assault, distribution of controlled substances, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, robbery by sudden snatching, terroristic threats and criminal trespassing.
This case was investigated by the FBI Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison prosecuted the case for the Government.
US World Gang Member Convicted of Assaulting FBI Agent in 2022 ShootingRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. –A Columbus resident and member of a criminal street gang who—along with a co-defendant—shot multiple rounds at an FBI agent in Columbus last year was found guilty of assault on a federal officer along with additional charges for armed drug trafficking by a federal jury this evening.
Joshuia Johnathon Luke Brown aka “Black,” 25, was found guilty of one count of forcible assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime following a trial before U.S. District Judge Clay Land that began on Monday, Sept. 11. Brown is facing a maximum of life in prison. Brown’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2023.
Co-defendant Jarvis Smith, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of forcible assault on a federal law enforcement officer, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on Aug. 9. Smith is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison. Smith’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19. Neither Smith nor Brown are eligible for parole.
“As if out of a movie, Joshuia Brown and Jarvis Smith stepped out of their car in the middle of a Columbus street and brazenly shot at an FBI agent, narrowly missing the agent and shooting through a citizen’s home. This type of lawlessness cannot be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Law enforcement at every level is putting their lives on the line in a collaborative effort to reduce violence and hold the most dangerous individuals in our communities accountable for their criminal actions.”
“Anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer is dangerous and an extreme threat to public safety. Stopping violent criminals, like Brown, is one of the most important things we can do to protect our communities,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "Thankfully, no one—including our Special Agent—was injured during Brown's act of terror. Columbus is a safer community with him off the streets."
“We will not tolerate this kind of violent conduct in Columbus. Joshuia Brown and Jarvis Smith displayed cowardly and heartless conduct toward law enforcement, who are real people that choose to devote themselves to serve and protect our community so all of us can enjoy a better quality of life,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “Law enforcement doesn’t get a lot of thank-yous, but I want to thank everyone involved in this case who ensured that justice was served, and that these men are held accountable for their violent actions.”
According to facts presented in court, federal agents were surveilling Brown and Smith in July 2022 as part of a larger and ongoing investigation into armed drug trafficking in the Columbus community. Through surveillance, agents observed a drug transaction involving Smith and Brown on July 28, 2022, in the vicinity of 1049 Winston Road in Columbus. At 4:35 p.m., Smith departed the scene in his car with Brown. FBI Agent S.A. conducted mobile surveillance as Smith traveled down Wade Street, turning south on Sheridan Avenue. Smith, who was driving, stopped his car in the middle of the road and he and Brown, who was a passenger, stepped outside of the car with weapons pointed in the agent’s direction and fired multiple rounds at the agent’s car, hitting the passenger door, the roof and the rear bumper of the FBI vehicle. One round traveled through the back of the FBI agent’s passenger seat, hitting a small bag on the front passenger side. Another round entered a private residence’s living room window, shattering a painting on the wall. The FBI agent was not injured during the shooting.
FBI and Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office units attempted to stop Smith’s car; Smith and Brown were able to elude law enforcement in a lengthy pursuit by car and on foot. Smith was taken into custody on July 28. After a manhunt that last several days, Brown turned himself in on Aug. 10. A bag dropped by Brown during the pursuit contained a fully loaded Glock 19X handgun with an extended magazine. Two bullets recovered from the FBI agent’s vehicle matched the Glock 19X found inside Brown’s discarded bag. Law enforcement recovered a camo backpack dropped by Smith during the pursuit that held a fully loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine, a fully loaded .380 semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. Also, several baggies containing methamphetamine, pills and other illegal drugs were found inside Smith’s backpack. Both the Glock 19X and the Glock pistol were modified to operate as machine guns.
Brown is a member of US World, a hybrid criminal street gang based out of Columbus that is affiliated with other national criminal gangs. Smith is a confirmed member of the Bloods criminal street gang and has a prior conviction of aggravated assault, burglary and robbery in Muscogee County, Georgia, Superior Court, Case No. SU-13-Cr-1336. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from multiple agencies including the DEA, the Columbus Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the Phenix City Police Department and the Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Williams and Crawford Seals are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Macon Resident Pleads Guilty to $3.5+ Million Tax Filing SchemeRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Middle Georgia woman admitted she falsified tax documents and received more than $331,758 in refunds, including creating a fake business claiming hundreds of non-existent employees, in an attempt to commit a tax fraud scheme totaling more than $3.5 million.
Lonnise Janelle Andrews, 43, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of making and subscribing a false return, one count of false claim for a tax credit and one count of false claim for a refund before U.S. District Marc T. Treadwell on Sept. 11. Andrews faces a maximum sentence of thirteen years in prison and a maximum of $600,000 in fines. In addition, Andrews agreed to pay $331,758 restitution to the IRS. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2024. Andrews is not eligible for parole.
“Those engaged in tax refund schemes and fraud are breaking federal law and will be held accountable for these crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we will seek justice on behalf of taxpayers.”
“Lonnise Andrews took responsibility today for fraudulently obtaining tax refunds and Employee Retention Credits when she pled guilty to these crimes,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal special agents will continue investigating, on behalf of honest taxpayers, those who engage in breaking tax laws.”
According to court documents, Andrews falsified IRS tax forms for herself, her father and a fake business, including reporting incomes, losses and withholdings she knew not to be true. On her own Form 1040 filed for tax year 2019, Andrews used a tax preparation website to generate fake Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-R; as a result, the IRS issued her a $165,245 refund check she was not entitled to, and she cashed.
In addition to the false Forms 1040 filed for herself and her father, Andrews filed false Forms 941 and Forms 7200, the latter developed by IRS in response to employment tax legislation, including the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Andrews filed for an entity named Andrews Harris Corbin (AHC), listing her father and a fictitious person named “Greg Corbin” as the organizers of AHC. AHC never filed an income tax return, had not been reported as a Schedule C business on anyone’s tax return and has never filed any documents with the Social Security Administration pertaining to its employees. Andrews signed and filed the false forms in 2020 and attempted to—and at one point successfully did—obtain refunds and credits. She reported AHC had 957 employees and requested a credit via a Form 7200 in the amount of $3,086,325. On April 11, 2020, she filed a quarterly Form 941 reporting AHC paid $1,435,500 in wages, tips and other compensation, and requested a refund in the amount of $25,978.83. AHC had no employees, had not paid any payroll taxes to be eligible for a refund and was not entitled to these credits and refunds. The IRS processed the Form 941 request for refund and sent a check in the amount of $25,978.83 to AHC at a UPS mailbox in Macon that Andrews had her father set up. Surveillance video confirmed her father picked the check up on Dec. 8, 2020. The check was not deposited and was later found in her bedroom during a search.
As part of her plea agreement, Andrews has agreed to pay restitution for the entirety of tax refunds listed in the indictment, totaling $331,758.
The case was investigated by the IRS.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Howard and Amy Helmick are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Prisoner Caught Hiding Contraband Knives Sentenced to 10+ YearsRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – An Athens resident with a lengthy and violent criminal history was sentenced to serve more than ten years in federal prison for illegally possessing a gun, hiding homemade shanks while in federal detention and violating the terms of his supervised release.
Michael Anthony Randall, 33, of Athens, was sentenced to a total of 129 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III on Sept. 7.: Randall was sentenced to serve 105 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Case No. 3:22-cr-00023; he was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison concurrent after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of contraband while in jail in Case No. 3:22-cr-28; and he was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison consecutive for violating his supervised release for a total of 129 months imprisonment. Randall is not eligible for parole.
“The penalty is steep for prisoners caught with contraband weapons and violent repeat offenders who illegally possess guns. In this case, Michael Randall violated both and is now held accountable with additional prison time,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, our office will seek federal prosecution against the most dangerous and repeat criminals in our communities.”
“Michael Randall is the definition of a repeat offender,” said Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep dangerous criminals like Randall off Georgia streets.”
According to court documents, Randall was indicted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Oct. 11, 2022, in the Middle District of Georgia, after he was arrested for illegally possessing a .380 pistol in Athens, on Jan. 12, 2021. Randall has multiple prior state felony convictions in North Carolina and Georgia, including assault with serious bodily injury and drug convictions. Randall was also previously convicted in the Middle District of Georgia for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
On Nov. 8, 2022, while in custody awaiting his initial appearance in federal court, Butts County Jail officers found a shank—a handmade knife—hidden on Randall’s person. Officers found another shank on Randall on Nov. 10, prior to his federal court appearance. On Dec. 16, Randall was found with another shank inside the Butts County Jail.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Butts County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Jarrett prosecuted the case for the Government.
Five-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Armed Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident with a violent criminal history was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison after a federal jury convicted him on charges related to armed methamphetamine trafficking.
Karzarta Piett, 42, was sentenced to serve 300 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Clay Land on Sept. 5. Piett was convicted on Feb. 14 of possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a two-day trial. Piett is not eligible for parole.
“Karzarta Piett is an armed repeat offender with a violent criminal past whose willful violation of the law has resulted in a significant federal prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Federal, state and local law enforcement are on the ground in Columbus and across the Middle District of Georgia working to remove the most dangerous individuals from the streets and help us hold them accountable for their crimes.”
“This meth dealer brazenly continued his drug trafficking activities despite being a five-time convicted felon,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “His conviction removes yet another dangerous criminal from our streets and sends a clear message to others who may choose to follow the same perilous path that DEA and its law enforcement partners are relentless in their pursuit.”
“This case exemplifies our commitment to prevent drugs and criminal activity from poisoning our communities,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “It also sends a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute members of these drug enterprises.”
"This sentencing sends a clear message that we will not tolerate violent criminals and drug traffickers in our community,” said Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis. “The collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, as exemplified in this case, demonstrates our commitment to reducing violent crime and keeping our neighborhoods safe. We thank the dedicated officers and agents who worked tirelessly to bring this individual to justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Piett was pulled over by Columbus Police Department (CPD) officers for multiple traffic violations on Jan. 7, 2021. Piett was driving with a suspended license. Officers requested a K-9 unit after they noticed drug residue in the car, and a drug detection canine alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search of the defendant’s vehicle based on probable cause recovered two ounces of methamphetamine, a loaded pistol, a digital scale, plastic bags and approximately $1500 cash in the center console, plus more than $2,000 cash in Piett’s pocket. A check of the defendant’s criminal background revealed a lengthy criminal history spanning 20 years, with five prior felony convictions including two separate convictions for aggravated assault and convictions for kidnapping, false imprisonment, robbery, terroristic threats and multiple drug distribution charges.
Following Piett’s sentencing, he will be transferred to the Middle District of Alabama, where he is currently under indictment for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by DEA, ATF and the Columbus Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted this case for the Government.
Guilty Pleas in Separate Armed Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearms CasesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Two men pleaded guilty to federal charges in separate Project Safe Neighborhoods cases in the Columbus region this week, one involving armed methamphetamine trafficking and the other illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Jason Selph, 42, of Georgetown, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Sept. 5. Selph faces a minimum of five years up to a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by at least four years of supervised release and a $5,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2024.
Corneilous Hixson, 27, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Sept. 5. Hixon faces a maximum of 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19.
U.S. District Judge Clay Land is presiding over these cases. The defendants are not eligible for parole.
“These cases exemplify the ongoing collaborative effort in the Columbus region to remove guns from the hands of criminals and convicted felons and hold them accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I applaud the determined efforts by law enforcement to make our communities safer.”
According to court documents in the Selph case, DEA, FBI and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint investigation into the armed distribution of methamphetamine in West Georgia. A confidential source made multiple purchases of methamphetamine from Selph beginning in Dec. 2021 until March 2022 at locations in Quitman County, Georgia, including at the defendant’s home in Georgetown, Georgia. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Selph’s home on March 23, 2022, recovering two bags containing approximately 166 grams of methamphetamine, a revolver and a rifle.
According to court documents in the Hixson case, the defendant was pulled over for a traffic violation on Aug. 25, 2022, and officers smelled burnt marijuana, prompting a search of his car. Officers found a firearm under Hixson’s front passenger seat and a straw with cocaine residue. Hixson ran away from the scene but was apprehended after a brief pursuit and arrested. Hixson has separate felony convictions in Muscogee County, Georgia, Superior Court for 1st degree burglary, influencing a witness, 2nd degree criminal damage to property and felon in possession of a firearm. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The Selph case was investigated by DEA, FBI and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.
The Hixson case was investigated by ATF and Columbus Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting these cases for the Government.
Columbus Woman Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. –A Columbus, Georgia, resident who admitted to possessing photos and videos of children being sexual abused was sentenced to serve ten years in federal prison for her crime.
Townes Ward Borum, 38, of Columbus, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Clay Land today after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Borum will also have to register as a sex offender for life upon her release from prison. Borum is not eligible for parole.
“This case serves as a harsh reminder of the length child predators will go to meet their needs at the cost of innocent and trusting lives,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “In collaboration with our law enforcement and community partners, we will seek justice on behalf of sexually exploited children and do everything within our power to hold predators accountable.”
“People like Borum, who sexually exploit children for monetary gain, do serious lasting harm and facilitate in the continued manufacturing and trading of child sexual abuse material,” said Rich Bilson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Columbus office. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to find such predators and lock them up so they can do no further harm.”
“This case shows how low predators will go to profit from innocent lives. Working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit remains committed to diligently investigating individuals who exploit our children,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey.
According to facts presented at court, GBI was contacted by law enforcement in New Jersey on May 20, 2022, with information that an adult female in the Middle District of Georgia was distributing nude photos of a young child to a man in their jurisdiction. The initial Cybertip leading to the New Jersey man came from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and a subsequent investigation found digital files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the man’s cell phone. The man told authorities that Borum was providing him with the CSAM material, and that they had been communicating on the Whisper app and by text message. The man said he paid Borum’s rent and other expenses in exchange for sexually explicit photos and videos of young children.
A search warrant was executed by GBI at Borum’s Columbus home on May 21, 2022. Borum’s cell phone was seized; it contained hundreds of images and videos of CSAM, including images of CSAM depicting prepubescent minors. Her phone also contained numerous messages between Borum and others discussing the exchange of child sexual abuse material for money. Agents also found online advertisements she created and posted to sell child sexual abuse material. Borum admitted to the facts in court.
The plea agreement in this case is sealed at the request of the Government for protection of minor victims.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by GBI, FBI-Atlanta, FBI-Dallas and FBI-Los Angeles, with special assistance from the Bergen County, New Jersey, District Attorney’s Office and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting the case for the Government.
15+ Year Prison Sentence for Georgia Man in Dog Fighting, Drug Conspiracy CaseRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Fort Valley, Georgia, resident involved in two separate drug trafficking organizations and a multi-state dog fighting operation based in Middle Georgia was sentenced to serve more than 15 years in prison today, the final defendant of 21 co-conspirators resulting from two Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigations.
Armard Davis aka “Black Jack,” 43, of Fort Valley, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 190 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III in Case No. 5:21-CR-3 after he previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture. His sentence holds him accountable for his criminal conduct spanning both investigations. Davis and his co-conspirators will not be eligible for parole.
“Coupling armed drug distribution with the cruel abuse of animals makes an already horrible situation even worse; the significant sentences in this case send the message that such conduct is unwelcome in Middle Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The tremendous collective effort put forth by many law enforcement agencies helped bring these defendants to justice and shut down a dangerous criminal organization.”
“Dogfighting is a brutal crime often tied with drug trafficking organizations, as seen in this case,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “These crimes destroy lives and place enormous burdens on communities. We appreciate the collaborative and extensive effort shared by federal, state and local law enforcement entities to investigate and prosecute this case.”
“These defendants posed a significant threat to the quality of life in our communities. The dismantling of these criminal organizations makes our communities a safer place today,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
“The barbaric practice of pitting animals against each other in a fight to the death has no place in this country,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Davis of the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. “The outstanding work of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners who investigated this case and the prosecutors of the U.S. Department of Justice made it possible to bring this individual of a major animal fighting venture to justice. USDA-OIG has made animal fighting a high priority in order to demonstrate that these inhumane acts of cruelty to animals will not be tolerated."
Investigations
According to court documents, law enforcement investigated a criminal organization involved in the distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine and organized dog fighting based out of Roberta, Georgia, which extended into North Georgia, Florida and Alabama from May 2019 until Feb. 2020. In Feb. 2020, law enforcement executed 15 residential search warrants and seized more than 150 dogs that were being used for organized dog-fighting.
Many of the rescued dogs had scarring and visible injuries such as broken legs and open bleeding wounds, all consistent with dog fighting. Agents seized scales, weighted collars, heavy chains, ground stakes, miscellaneous pedigrees and medical supplies to treat injuries the animals sustained from dog fighting activities. In addition, law enforcement recovered firearms and illegal drugs during the course of this extensive investigation. In total, the criminal organizations are being held accountable for the distribution of approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine and 179 grams of methamphetamine.
Ten co-conspirators sentenced in case 5:21-CR-3:
Lekey Davis aka “Kee Boo,” 47, of Talbotton, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 210 months of imprisonment to be followed by four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base;
Christopher Raines aka “Binky,” 52, of Talbotton, was sentenced to serve 135 months of imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release and pay a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base;
Jarvis Lockett aka “J-Rock,” 43, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and cocaine distribution;
Derrick Owens aka “Doomie,” 39, of Woodland, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine;
Jason Carter, 41, of Phoenix City, Alabama, was sentenced to serve 97 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine;
Vernon Vegas, 51, of Suwanee, Georgia, was sentenced to serve the maximum 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and pay a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture;
Shaquille Bentley, 29, of Roberta, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 48 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to use of a communication facility;
Shelley Johnson aka “Gold Mouth,” 41, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 37 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $25,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture;
Rodrick Walton aka “Rodrie Walton,” 43, of Shiloh, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 24 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture; and
Bryanna Holmes, 27, of Fort Valley, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 36 months of probation after pleading guilty to use of a communication facility.
Eight co-conspirators also sentenced in related case 5:21-CR-3:
Antoine Riley aka “Bear,” 46, of Warner Robins, was sentenced as a career offender to serve 180 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release to run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed in a pending case in Taylor County, Georgia, Superior Court after pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine base;
Brittany Smith, 30, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 135 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Antonio Raines, 39, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 97 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine base;
Emanuel Ivey, 37, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 87 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine base;
Joseph Day, 50, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 46 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine base;
Desmond Griffin, 30, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine base;
Obie Wright, 68, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine base; and
Latanya Williams, 41, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve three years of probation after pleading guilty to making false statements.
Two more co-conspirators sentenced from other related cases 5:21-CR-39 and 5:21-CR-40 respectively:
Lee Anthony Benney, 56, of Reynolds, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 21 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture; and
Reginald Crimes, 40, of Preston, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 24 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture.
For more information about these cases, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/remaining-defendants-middle-georgia-armed-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced; https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/12th-defendant-sentenced-dog-fighting-drug-distribution-ring; and https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/doj-announces-arrests-middle-georgia-drug-conspiracy-and-dog-fighting-ring.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The dog-fighting and drug conspiracy case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Merriweather County Sheriff’s Office, the Peach County Sheriff’s Office, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Byron Police Department and the Fort Valley Police Department. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and Senior Trial Attorney Banu Rangarajan with the Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
The methamphetamine distribution case was investigated by DEA, FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), USMS, the Monroe County Sherriff’s Office, the Bibb County Sherriff’s Office and the Warner Robins Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim prosecuted the case.
Jury Convicts Ray City Man for Armed Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Ray City, Georgia, convicted felon was found guilty by a federal jury late last week of armed drug trafficking resulting from a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation.
Demetris Gervone Bellamy, 31, of Ray City, Georgia, was found guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on Aug. 17. Bellamy faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 10. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Armed drug trafficking conducted by career criminals is a threat to our communities and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “We are thankful to our local law enforcement partners for collaborating with us to keep our communities as safe as possible.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a cooperating witness in a drug trafficking investigation informed law enforcement they received methamphetamine from a source named “Nitro,” who was later identified as Bellamy. Law enforcement conducted a controlled methamphetamine buy from Bellamy on Sept. 9, 2021, surveilling him exiting his Ray City residence carrying a bag and arriving at the location in Valdosta. Bellamy fled the scene after he realized that law enforcement was present, tossing a bag of nearly 500 grams of methamphetamine immediately before he was apprehended. Investigators located a firearm in his car, along with a scale, baggies, and quantities of other drugs. Post-arrest, Bellamy admitted to acquiring “30 bricks” of methamphetamine as well as the firearm found in his vehicle from another person. A recorded jail call captured Bellamy telling a friend that he was going to get out of his charges because he tossed the drugs while he was running and the firearm was found in his vehicle, as opposed to on his person. Bellamy has a lengthy criminal history, including prior drug trafficking convictions. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a gun.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch is prosecuting the case for the Government, with support from Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.
Gang Members Convicted of Murder, Federal Racketeering, and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Macon, Georgia, convicted three members of the Gangster Disciples – a national gang with a long history of lawlessness and violence – on Aug. 17 in connection with the murder of three people, as well as various other offenses including drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, and firearm charges.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Philmon Deshawn Chambers, aka Dolla Phil, 34, of Atlanta, who was a Chief Enforcer for the State of Georgia; Andrea Paige Browner, aka Light Brite, aka Drea, aka Shawty, 28, of Athens, Georgia; and Lesley Chappell Green, aka Grip, 35, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, were responsible for three gang-related murders triggered by the murder of a Gangster Disciple member. After that murder, other Gangster Disciples allegedly sought to identify and retaliate against those responsible for the victim’s death. Chambers followed Rodriguez Apollo Rucker to his Athens residence where he shot and killed Rucker, who was a relative of a suspect of the first murder.
“These defendants placed the Gangster Disciples’ rule of revenge above the rule of law. Their days of violence in the name of the Gangster Disciples are now over,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this case demonstrates, outstanding cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement is vital to dismantling violent criminal enterprises and keeping our communities safe. The Justice Department will not waiver in its commitment to protecting victims of violent crime.”
After learning that police suspected Chambers of Rucker’s murder, Chambers and Browner fled from Georgia to Texas. To cover up this crime and protect the gang, Chambers ordered that fellow gang members he suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, Derrick Ruff and Joshua Jackson, be killed. Green, along with Shabazz Larry Guidry, aka Lil L, aka L, aka Lil Bro, aka Lil Larry, 28, of Decatur, Georgia, and Robert Maurice Carlisle, aka Different, 34, of Lithonia, Georgia, shot and killed Ruff and Jackson and left their bodies in a storage unit in Lawrenceville, Georgia, where they were discovered four months later.
“Philmon Chambers, Andrea Browner and Lesley Green were Gangster Disciples who engaged in a pattern of violent criminal activity for years, to include three heinous murders; now, justice has been served,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia. “Violent gangs, intimidation and murder have no place in our lawful society, and I commend the federal, state and local partners who worked so closely to solve this case of exceptional complexity.”
“Chambers, Browner, and Green are responsible for gang-related acts of murder, retaliation, and other destructive crimes,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Forces are the front line of our efforts protecting communities across the country from violent gangs like the Gangster Disciples. I commend the members of the Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force led by the FBI Athens Resident Agency, as well as our partners in Athens and Gwinnett Counties, for ensuring these violent criminals are taken off the streets of Georgia.”
The jury convicted Chambers, Browner, and Green of racketeer influenced and corrupt organization (RICO) conspiracy. The jury also convicted Chambers and Browner of violent crime in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder and federal firearm offenses related to murder. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Chamber and Browner face a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison. Green faces a statutory penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Carlisle and Guidry previously pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy.
The FBI Atlanta Field Office, Athens Resident Agency Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, and Gwinnett County Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Ken Kaplan of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison for the Middle District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Justice Department’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Gangster Disciples Members Convicted of Three Gang-Related MurdersRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A federal jury yesterday afternoon convicted three members of the Gangster Disciples for their roles in the murder of an Athens, Georgia, resident as retribution for the killing of another gang member and the murders of two other Athens men falsely suspected of cooperating with law enforcement.
Philmon Deshawn Chambers, aka “Dolla Phil,” 34, of Atlanta was convicted of Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy; Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering - Murder (VICAR-Murder); Carry and Use of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence; and Causing the Death of a Person Using a Firearm. Chambers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison for the VICAR-Murder offense, and a maximum of life in prison for each of the remaining offenses.
Co-defendant Andrea Paige Browner, aka “Drea,” 28, of Athens, Georgia, was convicted of Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy; Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering - Murder (VICAR-Murder); and Causing the Death of a Person Using a Firearm. Browner faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison for the VICAR-Murder offense, and a maximum of life in prison for each of the remaining offenses.
Co-defendant Lesley Chappell Green, aka “Grip,” 35, of Stone Mountain, was convicted of Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy. Green faces a maximum of life in prison.
Jury selection began on July 31 and the trial concluded on Aug. 17 before Chief U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell. A sentencing date for Chambers, Browner and Green has not been scheduled.
Two co-defendants previously entered guilty pleas:
Robert Maurice Carlisle, aka “Different,” 36, of Lithonia, Georgia, pleaded guilty to Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy on June 8, and is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison; and
Shabazz Larry Guidry, aka “Lil Larry,” 28, of Decatur, Georgia, pleaded guilty to Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy on June 8 and is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Sentencings for these defendants has not been scheduled.
“Philmon Chambers, Andrea Browner and Lesley Green were Gangster Disciples who engaged in a pattern of violent criminal activity for years, to include three heinous murders; now, justice has been served,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Violent gangs, intimidation and murder have no place in our lawful society, and I commend the federal, state and local partners who worked so closely to solve this case of exceptional complexity.”
"Our hope is that this verdict brings a sense of relief and justice to the victim's families, who have endured such pain throughout these past few years,” said Robert Gibbs, Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta's Macon Office. “All three defendants’ actions were indefensible, cruel and unjust. They will now face the penalty for the despicable choices they made. We are grateful for our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly on this case, as their dedication was essential in today’s verdict.”
“This guilty verdict ensures that these violent offenders who are directly responsible for multiple murders are off the streets, making Athens and the entire state of Georgia safer,” said Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “Local, state and federal agencies poured countless hours over several years into the success of this case, and I am thankful for their tireless efforts to make sure justice is served.”
According to court documents, Chambers held a “Position of Authority” within the national Gangster Disciples criminal organization, which included overseeing members of the “Enforcement Team.” The Enforcement Team is directed to discipline gang members using physical assault or murder. Co-defendant Green was a member of the Enforcement Team. Co-defendant Browner was a member of the “Sisters of the Struggle” (SOS), a parallel female component of the Gangster Disciples, and held a leadership position in the gang.
Evidence presented at trial proved that on Dec. 10, 2018, Gangster Disciples member Walter Brown was murdered in Athens, Georgia. Chambers and Browner sought retaliation for Brown’s death and believed three unnamed Athens residents were responsible. On Dec. 14, 2018, Browner met Rodriquez Apollo Rucker, of Athens, at a downtown Athens hotel and learned that Rucker was related to one of the individuals she believed killed Brown. Browner texted Chambers, and Chambers came to the motel. Chambers followed Rucker home and shot and killed him. Browner notified an associate of the Gangster Disciples that she and Chambers would be leaving town because the police would be looking for them.
Browner was taken into custody in Mt. Enterprise, Texas, on Dec. 15, and Chambers got away. Chambers was suspicious that someone was cooperating with law enforcement and focused his suspicions on Derrick Ruff and Joshua Jackson. Chambers concluded that Ruff and Jackson were “snitches” and directed Green, who held a subordinate position on the Enforcement Team, to carry out the murders of Ruff and Jackson.
Text messages and intercepted phone calls between Chambers, Green, Carlisle and Guidry revealed that Ruff and Jackson were lured by Green, as directed by Chambers, to drive from Athens to Lawrenceville to break into storage sheds and steal items to send to Chambers as “aid and assistance” as he was hiding out from law enforcement in a Gangster Disciple “safe house” in Killeen, Texas. The ruse worked, and Ruff and Jackson were murdered on Dec. 19 and their bodies concealed in the storage unit until March 17, 2019, when police with the assistance of cadaver sniffing dogs located them. Additional messages between Chambers, Green, Carlisle and Guidry showed that they conspired to dispose of the victims’ bodies, which included potentially burning the bodies or dumping the bodies in a landfill. Law enforcement recovered the bodies and made arrests before these plans could be carried out.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case is being investigated by FBI Athens Resident Agency Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Gwinnett County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison of the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Ken Kaplan of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Four Texas Men Plead Guilty to Stealing Cash, Damaging ATMs in Three StatesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Four Houston, Texas, residents pleaded guilty to federal charges for stealing cash and damaging ATMs using hooks, chains and stolen trucks in Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana.
Jamarlon Butler, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud the United States on Aug. 15. Co-defendants Marques Strambler, 35, David Hill, 31, and Traveon Odoms, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud the United States on Aug. 7. The defendants each face a maximum of five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing before U.S. District Judge Clay Land is scheduled for Dec. 7. There is no parole in the federal system.
“These defendants embraced lawlessness, stealing vehicles and mauling ATMs in numerous attempts to steal money in Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office will not hesitate to hold individuals accountable for criminal actions that cause loss and damage for people, their businesses and the broader communities we serve.”
“Damaging property and stealing cash from a bank is a federal crime, regardless if violence occurred, and the FBI will always investigate” said Rich Bilson, Senior Resident of FBI Atlanta’s Columbus office. “Rather than legitimately work to make their money, these defendants choose to scheme and steal and will now be held accountable for their crimes.”
According to court documents and other evidence, the defendants stole cash from ATMs in Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana during the summer of 2021 by accessing the machine’s internal safe using chains and hooks attached to stolen trucks. In total, the defendants are being held accountable for three ATM robberies totaling $166,482.18 of loss in cash and damages.
The first theft occurred in the Middle District of Georgia on June 16, 2021. The defendants stole a Ford F250 from Phenix, Alabama, and targeted the SunTrust Bank on Courtyard Way in Columbus, Georgia. Ultimately, their attempt to access the money inside the ATM was unsuccessful but caused $12,727 in damage.
Approximately forty minutes later and 11 miles away from the SunTrust Bank in Columbus, the defendants successfully robbed the ATM machine at Phenix Girard Bank on Highway 280 in Phenix City, Alabama, using the same stolen truck. The total in cash and damages there was $129,804.44.
Police found the abandoned truck a half a mile from the Phenix Girard Bank the next day. Surveillance footage captured the truck being abandoned behind a business and three individuals running away towards another vehicle. An employee of the business stated he saw the truck traveling at a high rate of speed and dragging something causing sparks and noise (caused by the still-attached tow chain and hook), before it was abandoned in the parking lot. The truck was the same truck used in the attempted robbery of the SunTrust ATM in Columbus.
The defendants stole a truck in Covington, Louisiana, on July 27, and attempted to rob the ATM at the Hancock Whitney Bank in Covington at 4:00 a.m. unsuccessfully. Surveillance video shows the defendants exiting a truck and attaching a tow chain and hook to the front of the ATM to access the internal safe. The defendants caused $23,950.74 in damage.
The case was investigated by FBI-Atlanta, FBI-New Orleans, the Columbus Police Department, the Phenix City, Alabama, Police Department and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting the case for the government.
Florida Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing a Gun in Valdosta PSN CaseRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – An armed Orlando, Florida, convicted felon who was wanted on outstanding warrants for aggravated assault and terroristic threats when he led Georgia deputies on a high-speed chase to evade arrest was convicted by a federal jury late yesterday afternoon of illegally possessing a firearm resulting from a Project Safe Neighborhoods case.
Joshua Granger, 34, of Orlando, Florida, was found guilty of one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon at the conclusion of a two-day trial before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on Aug. 15. Granger faces a maximum of ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2024.
“Our office will hold repeat offenders accountable at the federal level when they illegally possess guns, especially when they lead law enforcement on a high-speed chase that endangers innocent civilians,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our trial team was supported by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office to help bring this defendant to justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a Lowndes County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop Granger for a traffic violation while he was traveling on Highway 401 on May 26, 2021. Granger attempted to evade arrest, leading law enforcement on a chase at speeds up to 130 miles per hour, crossing into Florida. Officers performed a PIT maneuver, and Granger was apprehended following a foot chase. Officers found a 9mm handgun with a 33-round magazine containing 25 rounds of ammunition inside Granger’s car. At the time of his arrest, Granger was wanted on outstanding warrants for aggravated assault, burglary, terroristic threats and extortion. Granger has prior felony convictions, to include delivery of cocaine and burglary of a dwelling.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch is prosecuting the case for the Government, with support from Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.
New York Investment Firm CEO Guilty of Defrauding 50+ Investors in Multi-Million Dollar Pre-IPO ScamRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – The CEO of a New York-based venture capital firm pleaded guilty in a wire fraud conspiracy case impacting more than 50 investors.
George Iakovou, 30, of New York, New York, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Aug. 8 before U.S. District Judge Clay Land. If convicted, Iakovou faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19.
“George Iakovou defrauded more than 50 people from around the country of millions of dollars, using these stolen funds to buy luxury items and travel in private jets,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This jet-setting con artist will now be held accountable, thanks to the hard work of the Secret Service, working in conjunction with our office.”
“George Iakovou is another example of how fraudsters are getting more sophisticated with their schemes to steal money,” said Resident Agent in Charge Clint Bush with the U.S. Secret Service’s Albany, Georgia, Resident Office. “Iakovou created a fictious capital firm for the sole purpose of defrauding American citizens. Iakovou then utilized the stolen funds to live a lavish lifestyle, without regard to the victims. Iakovou’s greed will have an everlasting effect on the victims he defrauded. The United States Secret Service will continue to investigate, arrest and support the successful prosecution of the criminals who choose to commit this and other types of financial fraud in our community and around the nation. “
According to court documents, in July 2021, the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) began investigating a pre-IPO (initial public offering) scheme orchestrated by Iakovou, the CEO of Vika Ventures LLC, a boutique venture capital firm headquartered in New York which purported to specialize in pre-IPO investments in various early and late-stage private companies.
Iakovou advertised that Vika had access to buy pre-IPO shares in private companies such as Palantir, Airbnb, SpaceX and Stripe. He claimed that once these private companies went public and the mandatory six-month lockout period expired, Vika would distribute the purchased shares to the investors. In fact, Iakovou had neither access to pre-IPO shares in the advertised companies nor owned the shares at the time of the solicitations. While Iakovou did take the victim-investors’ money, he did not purchase or acquire any of the promised shares. Iakovou established fake email domains, posed as representatives from private equity brokerage firms and created fake bank statements among other tricks to carry out his fraud scheme.
USSS identified more than 50 victim-investors from across the country who provided capital to Vika between Jan. 2020 and Dec. 2021, including two victims in the Middle District of Georgia. A review of bank records for Vika’s investor account showed that identified victim-investors paid Vika approximately $5,958,505 for the purchase of pre-IPO shares of select private companies, but none received their promised shares. Iakovou rerouted the money to several accounts, including personal bank accounts, and used the money for private jet charters, cars, home furnishings, artwork, luxury clothing and accessories. For example, Iakovou spent $135,528 on a 2021 Corvette Stingray and more than $500,000 on luxury watches, including $231,799 on a single Patek Philippe timepiece.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brought a related civil action against Iakovou.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams is prosecuting the case.
Columbus Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing AR-15 Styled Ghost GunRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident with a criminal history faces up to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to several federal gun and drug charges, including possessing a privately-made, untraceable machine gun.
Quintavius Harrow aka “Cootie,” 31, of Columbus, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of illegal possession of a machine gun. Harrow faces a maximum sentence of life in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $10,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The proliferation of ghost guns—self-made and untraceable weapons—is a threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Combating gun violence is a top priority for our office and our law enforcement partners. We will continue to devote every resource available to cracking down on illegal firearms and hold those who possess unlawful ghost guns accountable.”
“The FBI, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, are committed to the safety and security of our community,” said Rich Bilson, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Columbus office. “This plea removes a dangerous career criminal from our streets and lands him in federal prison, without the opportunity for parole.”
“This violent drug trafficker can no longer distribute dangerous drugs, such as methamphetamine, as he now faces the consequences for his poor choices,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
"Quintavius Harrow's possession of a privately-made, untraceable machine gun underscores the urgent need to address the rapid reproduction of such dangerous weapons,” said Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis. “This case exemplifies our commitment to public safety and collaborative efforts to combat violent crime. We remain dedicated to our partnership with federal and local agencies and community programs in reducing these threats."
“We will continue to work in collaboration with all law enforcement partners to remove these types of threats from our community for a safer Columbus,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman.
According to court documents, FBI and DEA conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Harrow using a confidential source (CS) on March 18, 2022. During the transaction, Harrow was filmed in possession of an AR-15 styled pistol and sold the CS two bags containing a total of 498 grams of methamphetamine. On April 26, 2022, Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Drug and Gang Task force agents executed a search warrant at a trap house located at 813 Coolidge Avenue in Columbus, where Harrow was observed selling methamphetamine to the CS the month prior. Harrow was in the home along with other individuals. Law enforcement found a variety of illegal drugs and several firearms throughout the house. Notably, in a back bedroom, officers located the same AR-15 style pistol Harrow carried on March 18. With no known manufacturer or visible serial number, the AR-15 style pistol had a large capacity magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition. FBI examined the AR-15 style pistol and determined it was a “ghost gun” equipped with an auto sear, which converted the firearm to a machine gun. Ghost guns are untraceable firearms assembled by private individuals from firearm components.
Prior to these incidents, on March 6, 2020, Columbus Police Department (CPD) Special Operation’s unit officers were surveilling the area of Elizabeth Canty Apartments. Officers observed several people standing near a vehicle, including Harrow. Upon approach by officers, Harrow began walking away and then discarded a yellow container containing methamphetamine and a stolen HK 9mm, semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine. Harrow was taken into custody with a digital scale with marijuana residue and $436 cash in his pocket.
Harrow has a criminal history for robbery by intimidation in Muscogee Co., Georgia, Superior Court and use of a gun with an altered identification mark in Chattahoochee County, Georgia, Superior Court. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by FBI, DEA, the Muscogee Co. Sheriff’s Office and the Columbus Police Department, with assistance from GBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams is prosecuting the case for the government.
Columbus Resident Charged with Forcibly Assaulting Two Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A federal criminal complaint charging a Columbus resident with forcibly assaulting two federal officers as they attempted to take him into custody last week was unsealed today.
Christopher Upshaw, 24, had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Stephen Hyles on Aug. 10, and was ordered detained by the Court. Upshaw is charged by criminal complaint with forcibly assaulting, resisting or opposing a federal officer. If convicted, Upshaw faces a maximum 20 years in prison.
According to court proceedings and the criminal complaint, Upshaw was under investigation for alleged drug distribution. On July 5, a federal search warrant was executed on a suspicious package destined for an address in Columbus; agents found 12 vacuum sealed bags of marijuana from Northern California. On July 31, a suspicious package originating from Northern California and addressed to the same location was identified. As part of the investigation, agents observed the suspicious package received and then placed in a Dodge Challenger registered to Upshaw. When deputies attempted to pull the vehicle over, allegedly driven by Upshaw, a high-speed chase ensued, with the driver of the Challenger traveling recklessly through residential neighborhoods and performing illegal and evasive lane changes in heavy traffic. The vehicle also traveled northbound in a southbound lane. The pursuit was terminated by law enforcement due to concerns about public safety, and the driver of the vehicle got away.
On Aug. 4, another suspicious package from Northern California addressed for a residence allegedly associated with Upshaw was identified. Law enforcement, attempting to arrest Upshaw on outstanding arrest warrants for assault and battery, felony malicious wounding and resisting arrest, conducted surveillance on the location that day. At 3:30 p.m., the suspicious parcel was delivered. Approximately 30 minutes later, Upshaw allegedly arrived in his Dodge Challenger, picked up the package, placed it inside his car and got back in the driver’s seat. At this time, 15 law enforcement officers wearing agency-issued body armor with visible insignia approached Upshaw to arrest him on outstanding warrants. Upshaw allegedly began forcibly operating his vehicle to resist the arrest, despite officers’ demands to stop and exit the car. One FBI Task Force Officer attempted to open the driver’s side door and one FBI Agent tried to open the passenger’s side door. Upshaw allegedly accelerated causing his car to strike the FBI Task Force Officer. Simultaneously, because of the vehicle’s acceleration, the FBI Agent on the passenger side was unable to disengage from the door handle and was pushed into a nearby vehicle causing bodily harm. Law enforcement continued chasing Upshaw, who eventually abandoned the car and fled on foot. Upshaw escaped and was captured on Aug. 9.
The case was investigated by FBI, DEA, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office and the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Security Subcontractor Sentenced to Prison for Threatening to Bomb Local Democratic Campaign OfficeRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A former security subcontractor working at the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Party coordinated campaign office was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison for sending a threatening message to bomb their local headquarters the day before the U.S. Senators from Georgia were in town for campaign events.
Jessica Diane Higginbotham aka Jessica Harriod aka Jessica Jones, 35, of Elberton, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III on July 31. Higginbotham pleaded guilty to one count of communicating a bomb threat on May 16. There is no parole in federal prison.
“Threats of violence intended to disturb the peace and disrupt the democratic process are taken seriously in the Middle District of Georgia and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I commend the many local and federal law enforcement agents whose collaboration in this case ensured a safe outcome for our community.”
“The FBI and our partners take each threat seriously and will always fully investigate and analyze each threat to determine its credibility,” said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. “Higginbotham’s threat, although a hoax, diverted precious law enforcement resources and wasted taxpayer dollars, and for that she will be held accountable by spending time behind bars.”
“The ACCPD takes threats of violence seriously. Once we learned of these threats our officers and detectives worked alongside state and federal partners to identify and arrest the offender,” said Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “I appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work, and we will continue to work together to keep our community safe.”
According to court documents, on Dec. 3, 2022, at 6:01 p.m., an employee of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) in Athens received a text message: “Hello, I am writing this message to you to let you know that I am coming by either tonight or in the morning to set a bomb up. So I can blow all the Democrats up. I have other people going to other offices also. If I can’t stop you by breaking in and destroying the property then I will blow every one up. So be ready to be blown up. This is going to either happen tonight or in the morning. Hope you like being on the wrong team.”
The FBI began investigating the threat immediately, and officers with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) responded to the area of the threat. The U.S. Senate runoff election was scheduled to take place on Dec. 6, and elected officials were in Athens participating in campaign events, including both U.S. Senators from Georgia on Dec. 4. Using a series of emergency disclosure requests (EDRs), FBI agents discovered the cell phone belonged to the defendant, who was also working as a contract security officer for a firm employed by the local Democratic coordinated campaign. The U.S. Capitol Police were also investigating the bomb threat, and independently determined that the bomb threat was sent from Higginbotham’s cell phone.
On Dec. 4, FBI task force officers located Higginbotham at a coffee shop in Athens with the cell phone in her hands. When she saw the agents approach her, she vomited. At first, she denied sending the bomb threat. A federal search warrant was executed on her cell phone, which linked the email account used in the bomb threat to her. While investigating the bomb threat, agents learned that there had been a break-in at the local Democratic campaign building in Athens on Nov. 27, and a laptop belonging to the campaign was stolen. At the time of the burglary, investigators noted that it appeared to be staged as tables were turned over, but the building was locked with no evidence of a forced entry. Investigators later recovered the stolen laptop with Higginbotham’s personal items. Higginbotham now admits that she used a cell phone to willfully threaten to kill or injure people and unlawfully destroy a building with an explosive.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will R. Keyes prosecuted the case.
Macon Man Sentenced to Prison Resulting from Identity Theft InvestigationRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Middle Georgia resident was sentenced to prison this week after he admitted to committing wire fraud in an identity theft scheme.
Aaron Jamal Denzel Austin, 33, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on July 26, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Identity theft and fraud is rampant. In this case, the defendant was using stolen personal information to execute a variety of schemes, from registering fake businesses so he could obtain large credit lines to depositing a stolen $49,000 check,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Local and federal investigators have prevented continued fraud and distress for these victims and have helped us hold the defendant accountable for his criminal schemes.”
“This case is another example that clearly shows criminals are continuously looking for ways to commit fraud. In this case, fictious business were created for the sole purpose of committing fraud,” said Resident Agent in Charge (RAC) Clint Bush, United States Secret Service, Albany, Georgia, Resident Office. “The United States Secret Service, along with our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners will continue to investigate, arrest and support the successful prosecution of the criminals who choose to commit this and other types of financial fraud in our community and around the nation.”
According to court documents, Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies found eight debit cards and three driver’s licenses belonging to other people in Austin’s possession during a traffic stop for reckless driving and failing to maintain lane on Jan. 19, 2020. A subsequent investigation revealed that Austin, who worked at an Atlanta club, had used two stolen identities to register two separate fictious businesses with the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office to obtain two Capital One business credit cards with credit limits of $30,000 and $20,000. Investigators discovered Austin used three other identities in a similar scheme to obtain business credit cards but was denied by the credit card company.
Investigators found text conversations between Austin and others discussing criminal fraud, including obtaining “socials” or social security numbers, exchanging a victim’s banking user name and password, and how to call banks to learn account balances and other victim information. Authorities also concluded the defendant recruited individuals to allow him to use their bank accounts to conduct fraudulent transactions. For example, Austin deposited a stolen $49,000 check from a New York couple into a coconspirator’s account. In all, authorities identified 23 actual or intended victims; Austin is being held accountable for a loss of $100,000.
The case was investigated by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom prosecuted the case.
Repeat Child Sex Offender Sentenced to 35 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A repeat child sex offender who admitted to possessing graphic child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in an investigation involving the tattooing of children was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison this week.
Kenneth Scott Queen, 35, of Forsyth, Georgia, and formerly of Dayton, Tennessee, was sentenced to serve 420 months in prison to be followed by 25 years of supervised release and pay $20,000 restitution to a minor victim by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on July 24, after he previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and one count of failure to register as a sex offender. Queen will also have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from prison.
“Children will be safer because law enforcement quickly responded to reports of minors being tattooed and unveiled a predator,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Protecting the most vulnerable citizens from harm—and holding criminals who prey on them accountable—is a priority for law enforcement at every level.”
"Despite his prior conviction, Queen continued to abuse children, which the FBI will not tolerate," said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. "Queen's 35 years in prison will give him plenty of time to think about his unacceptable and repeated behavior, but more importantly while in federal prison, he won't be able to do harm to any more children."
“A case like this highlights the importance and utility of our local and federal partnerships. Each agency played a specific and vital role in developing a comprehensive case for the prosecutors,” said U.S. Marshal Stephen D. Lynn for the Middle District of Georgia. “The successful prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office will keep a dangerous predator off the streets for many years and will prevent him from targeting additional young children. This was a job well done.”
According to public records, Queen was convicted of sexual battery against a child under age 16 and child molestation in Madison County, Georgia, Superior Court on Oct. 27, 2008. Queen was required to register as a sex offender for life. After his conviction, Queen relocated to Tennessee, where he registered as a sex offender. Queen was residing in Monroe County, Georgia, in the summer of 2020 when it was reported to authorities that he was unlawfully tattooing children. Queen was found in possession of graphic child sexual abuse material he captured involving a young child. Queen was required to be registered as a sex offender at the time but had not registered himself in Monroe County as the law required him to do. For the protection of the minor victim, a portion of Queen’s plea agreement will remain sealed.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The Queen case was investigated by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom prosecuted the case
Jury Convicts Felon of Illegally Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. –A South Georgia resident with a criminal history was convicted by a federal jury of illegally possessing a firearm.
Shi-Young Lamar Sharper, 39, of Valdosta, was found guilty of one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon at the conclusion of a one-day trial before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on July 26. Sharper faces a maximum of ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 15.
“In this case, the defendant dangerously attempted to avoid arrest and crashed his car into a citizen’s yard. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and he was captured safely,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Working with law enforcement, our office will hold repeat offenders accountable at the federal level when they chose to illegally pick up a gun.”
“Repeat offenders in possession of a firearm pose one of the most serious threats to public safety in our communities,” said Rich Bilson, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta's Valdosta office. “Sharper's criminal history demonstrates his disregard for the law, and now he will be held accountable at the federal level without the opportunity for parole.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to a traffic stop on the vehicle Sharper was driving in Feb. 2021. Instead of pulling over, Sharper drove through the front yard of a Valdosta residence, struck some bushes and then ran away from the scene. Law enforcement quickly found him with debris from the bushes on his head and shoulders. Officers found a .38 revolver in his car. Sharper has prior felony convictions. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Daniels and Sonja Profit prosecuted the case for the Government, with support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch and Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.
Thomasville, Georgia, Resident Convicted in Meth Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. –A Thomasville, Georgia, resident was convicted by a federal jury this week of possessing with intent to distribute a large quantity of methamphetamine.
Ryan Loyd Reeves, 50, was convicted on July 19 of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in a one-day trial before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson. Reeves faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $10,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 15.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to supporting local law enforcement’s efforts to prevent the distribution of the most dangerous illegal drugs into their communities and hold dealers accountable for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “We are thankful for the continued partnership between law enforcement at all levels to make our communities safer for all citizens.”
“Poisonous drugs continue to flow into our communities at the expense of too many lives,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “These drug traffickers must now deal with the consequences of their actions.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, officers with the Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics and Vice Division learned in Oct. 2021 that Reeves and co-defendant, Jennifer McGrotha, 46, of Ochlocknee, Georgia, were regularly working together to transport heroin, fentanyl and crystal methamphetamine from Atlanta to the Thomas County area for distribution. The pair used multiple vehicles during these trips to avoid detection, including vehicles that Reeves was supposed to be repairing for others. During the investigation, law enforcement determined Reeves and McGrotha were headed to Atlanta to obtain drugs; law enforcement initiated a traffic stop once they returned to Thomas County. A K-9 dog alerted on drugs inside the car. A subsequent search of the vehicle recovered 420 grams of methamphetamine intended for distribution into the community. Co-defendant McGrotha pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 11. She is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 20.
The case was investigated by DEA and the Thomas County Sheriff's Office/Thomasville Police Department Narcotics and Vice Division. Criminal Chief Leah McEwen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melody Ellis are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Tifton, Georgia, Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A south central Georgia resident is facing up to 20 years in prison resulting from a locally-initiated investigation into fentanyl and heroin distribution out of a Tifton, Georgia, motel room.
Alphonso White, 43, of Tifton, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on July 19 before U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands. White faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 19. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The defendant was in possession of roughly 4,200 deadly doses of fentanyl. I applaud Tift County Sheriff’s Office investigators for preventing an extremely dangerous drug from hitting the streets of Tifton,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This case clearly demonstrates that fentanyl is readily available in communities of every size across our District. Our office will continue to provide all necessary support to law enforcement in the effort to stop fentanyl distribution and hold dealers accountable.”
“The Tift County Sheriff’s Office always stands ready to work with local, state and federal authorities to help remove the scourge that fentanyl has become across this county,” said Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough.
According to court documents, the Tift County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the distribution of fentanyl, heroin and other illicit drugs in the community. As a result, investigators executed a search warrant on Jan. 18, 2022, at the Howard Johnson motel room in Tifton where White was staying. Officers confronted White after he exited his motel room; White was carrying 32 bags of a brown substance and blue pills marked “M 30.” The substances later tested positive for 8.544 grams of fentanyl. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, just two milligrams of fentanyl—an amount equivalent to 10-15 grains of table salt—is considered a lethal dose. White was in possession of approximately 4,272 lethal doses. Without laboratory testing, there is no way to know how much fentanyl is concentrated in a pill or powder, making it extremely dangerous. To learn more about fentanyl, please visit https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl.
The case was investigated by the Tift County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch is prosecuting the case for the government.
South Georgia Resident Convicted in Lanier County Meth Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. –A Clinch County, Georgia, resident was convicted by a federal jury late yesterday of possessing with intent to distribute nearly one kilogram of methamphetamine, resulting from an investigation initiated by the Lanier County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office.
Dennis Thompson, 40, of Homerville, Georgia, was convicted on July 18 of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine following a two-day trial that began on July 17 before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson. Thompson faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $10,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 15.
“Law enforcement successfully prevented a large quantity of methamphetamine from entering Lanier County,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Thompson, and others who choose to push large amounts of the most deadly and addictive illegal drugs, will be held accountable for these crimes that degrade communities and so often feed other criminal activities.”
“Thompson endangered himself, law enforcement and other motorists during his irresponsible attempt to evade justice for methamphetamine distribution,” said Rich Bilson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Valdosta office. “Hopefully this conviction sends a clear message that drug dealing in our communities will not be tolerated by the FBI and our partners.”
“We are appreciative of the cooperative efforts from all our partners to help bring this case to a close,” said Lanier County Sheriff Charles “Nick” Norton. “It is this kind of cooperation that makes our streets a safer place.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Thompson was under surveillance for distributing methamphetamine by Lanier County Sheriff’s Office investigators in Aug. 2020. A confidential informant told investigators that Thompson would be carrying a large amount of illegal drugs into Lanier County on Aug. 30, 2020, and he would be driving on Highway 221. Deputies attempted to pull Thompson over on Highway 221, but Thompson fled, leading deputies on a high-speed chase in excess of 100 miles per hour for several miles. The pursuit continued into Atkinson County, Georgia, where the vehicle finally came to a stop. A drug dog alerted to the odor of drugs inside Thompson’s car. Officers found 976 grams of methamphetamine inside a bag in the car. Thompson acquired the methamphetamine in Atlanta to distribute in the Lanier County community.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit and Criminal Chief Leah McEwen are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Gangster Disciples Member Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A confirmed member of the Gangster Disciples faces up to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge; the firearm was linked to a domestic violence assault through ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).
Megail Thirkield, 33, of Columbus, Georgia, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before U.S. District Judge Clay Land on July 18. Thirkield potentially faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum sentence of life in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 26. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Law enforcement efforts in Columbus remain focused on reducing crime and holding the most violent repeat offenders accountable for choosing to illegally arm themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This case demonstrates the strong collaboration between law enforcement at every level in Columbus by taking advantage of available technology like the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to hold the most violent repeat offenders accountable.”
“ATF’s mission and priority are to deny criminals access to firearms and protect the rights of law-abiding citizens. When offenders illegally possess firearms that can be used against our citizens, our children and our community, ATF takes this very seriously,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.
“Guns, gangs and acts of violence create a combination that yields a bad outcome,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work hand-in-hand with our federal partners to alleviate all threats that may impose any type of harm to the citizens of our county. We will continue to use the proven scientific technology of NIBIN as an investigative tool for crimes involving guns.”
According to court documents, a Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office investigator observed Thirkield—who was wanted on domestic violence charges—walking in the middle of Colorado Street in Columbus at approximately 12:30 p.m. on June 9, 2022. Multiple arrest warrants had been issued for Thirkield related to several domestic violence assaults between Feb. 2022 and May 2022. Police reports detail Thirkield stalking and harassing the same victim; he allegedly threatened the victim while brandishing a firearm—including pointing the weapon at her head and firing several shots into the air—and also allegedly violently attacked the victim, sometimes in the presence of the victim’s children.
While awaiting backup, the investigator watched Thirkield enter a house. The owner consented to law enforcement entering the residence where they found Thirkield hiding under a pile of clothes in a back bedroom. Thirkield was taken into custody in possession of a semi-automatic Glock pistol with 20 rounds of ammunition. The firearm was linked to the domestic violence incidents through NIBIN.
Thirkield is a confirmed member of the Gangster Disciples with a lengthy criminal history to include multiple felony drug distribution convictions, theft by receiving stolen property and illegal possession of a firearm in Muscogee County, Georgia, Superior Court. It is a federal crime for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
NIBIN, run by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), is the only interstate automated ballistic imaging network in the United States, making it possible for local law enforcement to search against evidence from across the country, improving the outcomes of criminal investigations. The NIBIN technology is considered a valuable tool by law enforcement in the effort to reduce gun crimes across the Middle District of Georgia.
The case was investigated by the Muscogee Co. Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams is prosecuting the case for the government.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Statutory Max for Illegally Possessing Guns in Project Safe Neighborhoods CaseRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Phenix City, Alabama, man with an extensive criminal history was sentenced to serve ten years in prison—the statutory maximum prison sentence allowed under federal law—for illegally possessing two pistols he tossed into the backyard of a home while attempting to escape arrest.
Raymond Richmond, 37, of Phenix City, Alabama, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Clay Land today after he pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on April 19. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Repeat criminal offenders are facing federal prosecution when they are caught with guns in Columbus,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “It’s going to take many different approaches to effectively reduce violent crime; holding violent repeat offenders accountable for illegally possessing firearms is just one part of the overall strategy. We are thankful for the continued collaboration between law enforcement and community partners working to make Columbus safer.”
“Taking illegal guns off the streets is critical in keeping communities safe. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of crimes,” said GBI Director Mike Register.
“This case is another reminder that ATF remains on the frontline of preventing violent crimes along with our law enforcement partners,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “We will not allow residents to suffer criminal behavior which threatens the safety of innocent civilians and law enforcement officers.”
“The message must be resoundingly clear for convicted felons in possession of firearms in Muscogee County: We will not accept this behavior at any level,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “They must know that we will pursue them and seek to fully prosecute their crimes. The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office stands committed to staying the course to fight for safer neighborhoods.”
According to court documents, on Dec. 15, 2020, a deputy with the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), was in routine patrol in Columbus and observed a car without a brake light and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle continued at a low rate of speed for several blocks but failed to stop. Near the intersection of 17th Street and Preston Drive—a residential section of the city—the vehicle slowed down and Richmond exited the front passenger seat with a black book bag and took off running.
A brief foot chase ensued, during which Richmond tossed his book bag in the backyard of a residence. Richmond was apprehended in the yard and the bookbag was located next to him in the shrubs. Inside, deputies found a .40 caliber Glock pistol with 26 rounds of ammunition, a .380 Kel-Tec pistol with five rounds of ammunition, along with crack, cocaine, pills and marijuana.
At the time of this incident, Richmond was wanted on several outstanding warrants. He has several prior felony convictions in Muscogee County, Georgia, Superior Court, including obstruction of a law enforcement officer, interference with government property and theft by taking. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Muscogee Co. Sheriff’s Office, GBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted the case for the government.
Sentencings in Athens-Area Armed Drug Trafficking CasesRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – Three defendants found guilty in multiple armed drug trafficking investigations in the Athens community were sentenced to federal prison this week for their crimes.
Stacey Collins aka “Sue,” 45, of Alto, Georgia, was sentenced to 240 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. She previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Case No. 3:22-cr-00009.
Juan Carlos Pimentel aka “Manuel Romero Gonzalez,” age unknown, of Athens and Mexico, was sentenced to 168 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin in Case No. 3:20-cr-00045. Co-conspirator, Steven Ricole Scott aka “Black” aka “Unc,” 47, of Athens, was sentenced to 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine in Case No. 3:20-cr-00008.
U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal handed down the sentences on July 10. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Not only are illegal controlled substances themselves growing deadlier due to the intentional or the unintentional mixing in of fentanyl, drug trafficking networks often precipitate violent crime that simply cannot be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “These cases demonstrate our office’s firm commitment to support local, state and federal law enforcement in their efforts to hold armed drug traffickers accountable in the Athens area.”
“The sentencing of these individuals ends an exhaustive investigation and proves that the FBI and our partners will spare no resource when it comes to ending an epidemic in our society that fuels violent crime and kills our citizens,” said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Athens office. “We want to thank our partners who relentlessly work along our side to dismantle these organized, violent criminal enterprises.”
“Drug dealing breeds violence and traffickers who engage in this dangerous lifestyle often protect their drug stash with firearms,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Consequently, these defendants will spend well-deserved time in prison. DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to making communities safer by removing such criminals from the streets.”
According to court documents in the Collins case, federal agents learned in 2018 that co-conspirator Malcody Dinges aka “Cody” aka “Yes, Sir Cody,” 44, was conducting drug deals using contraband cell phones while in custody at Wheeler Correctional Facility. During the investigation, agents learned that Dinges was communicating with Collins and other co-defendants located in the Athens region about controlled substances; these individuals would travel to locations in Atlanta as directed by Dinges to receive methamphetamine and return to Athens to distribute the drugs. Dinges received a fee for brokering the deals. Collins kept large amounts of Dinges’s drug proceeds, methamphetamine and other illegal substances at her northeast Georgia home. A subsequent investigation led to her arrest in possession of a five-gallon bag of methamphetamine and approximately $4,300 in cash. A search warrant was executed at her home where agents located several bags of methamphetamine and a firearm. Collins admitted she kept the drugs and up to $50,000 cash at her home because she was a trusted associate of Dinges. Dinges was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Dec. 16, 2021.
According to court documents in the Pimentel and Scott case, agents were investigating the distribution of illegal controlled substances and firearms from the Athens Gardens Apartment Complex by Rickshun Willingham, of Athens, who is deceased. Willingham obtained drugs from Pimentel and Scott, and agents observed Willingham purchasing drugs from Scott’s stash house on Lombardy Circle in Athens. During the investigation, Willingham arranged to buy one kilogram of heroin for $77,000 from Pimentel and another co-conspirator at Pimentel’s home in Athens in Dec. 2019. Willingham told Scott he “robbed the Mexicans” by using $50,000 in fake currency. Scott warned him to be careful because they carry firearms. Under surveillance, Pimentel conducted additional large quantity transactions of heroin. Multiple search warrants were executed in Jan. 2020, including at Pimentel’s residence. Agents seized two firearms and ammunition, $20,000 cash, several cell phones used for drug distribution, receipts for money transfers to Mexico and vacuum sealed bags. Additional narcotics were located at stash houses of co-conspirators named in the indictment. Pimentel is responsible for distributing between three and ten kilograms of heroin. Scott is responsible for distributing 780 grams of crack cocaine.
The Collins case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Appalachian RDEO and the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force.
The Pimentel and Scott case was investigated by the FBI, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and Georgia State Patrol (GSP).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Jarrett prosecuted the cases for the Government.
Milledgeville-based Meth Distribution Leader Sentenced to 30 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The leader of a methamphetamine trafficking organization centered in Milledgeville, Georgia, that was responsible for distributing five kilograms of methamphetamine into the community was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison resulting from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.
Jarvis Havior aka “J Bo,” 31, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on July 13. Havior pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 16.
“The armed distribution of highly addictive and deadly illegal drugs—and the additional crimes spawned by large-scale trafficking—will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “It’s thanks to the strong collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force that this criminal network was disbanded, and its players brought to justice.”
“Those who distribute methamphetamine pose a grave danger to the community. These traffickers can no longer deliver dangerous drugs on the streets and must now face the consequences of their actions,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
“The dangers associated with meth remain one of the most significant drug threats facing our community,” said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. “With the help of our federal, state and local partners, this is a significant amount of poison that will not make it into our communities, driving crime and violence.”
“Illegal drugs are dangerous and threaten the safety of Georgia communities. The GBI is committed to getting these drugs off the streets by bringing to justice all those that take part in the illegal drug trade, from the supplier down to the dealer,” said GBI Director Mike Register.
According to court documents, agents with DEA, GBI and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force (OCDETF) received credible information in June 2020 from multiple confidential sources that Havior was leading a multi-kilogram methamphetamine distribution ring operating in the Milledgeville community. A subsequent investigation determined the location of distribution “trap” and “stash” houses for bulk narcotics and cash that Havior and his criminal associates maintained.
On April 5, 2021, agents determined that Havior was going to replenish his methamphetamine supply at a location in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where he had previously traveled to for suspected drug re-supply runs. Agents observed Havior meet a man at a Publix parking lot in Stone Mountain and receive a fully laden green Publix bag. Havior traveled to a restaurant in Covington, Georgia, and gave the bag to co-defendant Anrico Taylor. Both defendants departed the restaurant in their respective vehicles and traffic stops were conducted on them in Baldwin County, Georgia. Taylor attempted to flee with the Publix bag, ripping apart several smaller bags of methamphetamine as he ran from officers, amounting to approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine spread on the ground. In total, four kilograms of methamphetamine was found inside the green Publix bag. In all, the drug trafficking ring is responsible for distributing at least five kilograms of methamphetamine.
The following co-defendants have been sentenced:
Nicolas Cuevas Flores was sentenced to serve 260 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Flores pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28;
Anrico Taylor was sentenced to serve 160 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 28;
Dawn Carey was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Carey pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Oct. 13, 2022;
Arturo Marshall was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Marshall pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28;
Tyrone Hitchcock was sentenced to serve 85 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Hitchcock pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 12, 2022;
Paul Collins was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Collins pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28, 2023;
Annie Collins was sentenced to serve 63 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Collins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on March 7;
Alicia Nugent was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Nugent pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28;
Perry Miller was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release. Miller pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28;
Lamont Jackson was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release. Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28;
Ryan Rickard was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release. Rickard pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility on Feb. 16;
Amber Vanclief was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Vanclief pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 9; and
Macarthur Reeves was sentenced to serve three years of probation. Reeves pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a communications facility on Feb. 16.
The following co-defendants entered guilty pleas and will be sentenced later:
- Matthew Cameron, 47, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and faces a maximum of ten years in prison; and
- Paris Binion, 30, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility and faces a maximum of four years in prison.
The following co-defendants remain at large and are charged by federal indictment with the following crimes:
- Paul Bentley aka “Old School,” 56, of Milledgeville, is charged with one count conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of life in prison; and
- Noe Canela, 34, of Lilburn, Georgia, is charged with one count conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of life in prison.
An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
People with information regarding the whereabouts of Bentley and Canela can contact the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office at (770) 216-3000 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by DEA, FBI, GBI, Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, Baldwin County Sherriff’s Office, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Department of Corrections, Milledgeville Community Supervision Office, Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office, Jones County Sheriff’s Office, Atlanta-Carolina’s HIDTA Office and Gwinnett Metro Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim is prosecuting the case.
Former Georgia Teacher Charged with Producing, Distributing, Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A federal grand jury returned a 21-count indictment this week charging a former Sandersville, Georgia, high school teacher with producing, distributing, receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Michael Allen Dendy, 32, of Milledgeville, Georgia, is charged with five counts of production of child pornography, seven counts of distribution of child pornography, eight counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. If convicted, Dendy faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison up to a maximum sentence of thirty years in prison for each count of production of child pornography; Dendy faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison up to a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison for each count of distribution and receipt of child pornography; and Dendy faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for possession of child pornography. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on July 11.
The indictment alleges that Dendy enticed minor children to engage in sexually explicit acts which were filmed or photographed. In addition, Dendy allegedly distributed, received and possessed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of minors.
Dendy was a teacher at Washington County High School in Sandersville, Georgia, from Aug. 2020 until his arrest on Jan. 20, 2023. Dendy taught at three schools previously: Griffin High School in Griffin, Georgia, from 2018-2020; St. Charles High School in Waldorf, Maryland, from 2017-2018; and Starkville High School in Starkville, Mississippi, from 2014-2016. Parents and guardians of children who may have encountered Dendy and have concerns related to this investigation can contact the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) tip line at 1-866-347-2423.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with significant assistance from the Leesburg, Virginia, Police Department, the Charles County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office and the Middle Judicial Circuit, Georgia, District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Peach.
An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Macon Man Sentenced to Prison for Brandishing a Firearm at Walmart CustomersRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident with a lengthy criminal history who carried a gun into a Macon Walmart and waved it aggressively at customers was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison.
Selma Oliver-Smith, 45, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III on July 10. Oliver-Smith was convicted on April 11 of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a two-day trial that began on April 10.
“We are thankful that no shots were fired, and no one was hurt when Selma Oliver-Smith—a convicted felon—brandished a firearm inside a Macon store, terrifying customers and employees,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The penalty is steep for convicted felons who illegally carry guns.”
“When offenders such as this use firearms to threaten individuals, ATF takes this very seriously,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “ATF remains on the frontline of preventing violent crime along with our law enforcement partners and will continue to pursue those who violate the law.”
“Selma Oliver-Smith’s arrest, conviction and sentencing shows that the justice system will not tolerate dangerous career criminals using a firearm to menace innocent shoppers in a busy Walmart,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from the Walmart on Harrison Road in Macon on Aug. 17, 2021, about a man aggressively waving a gun at people who approached him inside the store. Because of Oliver-Smith’s criminal record, he was known to officers, and he was located thereafter at a nearby motel. Oliver-Smith was found inside his hotel room, where officers found two firearms hidden inside the toilet bowl tank. One of the firearms, a Jennings Firearms Bryco .380, looked identical to the one in the photo provided by Walmart. Oliver-Smith has a lengthy criminal history to include convictions for burglary, theft by taking and second-degree criminal damage. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean S. Deitrick and Sonja Profit prosecuted the case for the Government.
Columbus Armed Robber Sentenced to 21+ Years for Violent Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus man who committed seven violent armed robberies with his stepbrother in 2021, holdingstore employees at gunpointand firing shots at people, was sentenced to serve 259 months in prison today.
Janerio Jones, 27, was sentenced to serve 259 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release today by U.S. District Judge Clay Land after he pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence on Dec. 20, 2022. Co-defendant Quentin Anderson, 29, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 14. Anderson previously pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit an offense on Feb. 24. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Janerio Jones and Quentin Anderson embarked on a violent robbery spree that caused mayhem in the Columbus community and inflicted lasting harm on their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office will do everything in our power to hold dangerous offenders accountable and support local, state and federal law enforcement in their efforts to curb violent crime.”
“No one should ever be terrorized physically or emotionally, like the victims in these violent armed robberies were,” said Rich Bilson, Special Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Columbus office. “Thanks to the assistance from our local law enforcement partners, Jones and Anderson will spend a long time behind bars where they won’t be able to wreak havoc on any more innocent civilians."
“In the span of a few days, the defendants charted a path of violent armed robberies at multiple businesses across Columbus,” said Columbus Police Department Deputy Chief Lance Deaton. “Thanks to the collaborative effort with our state and federal partners, these individuals were arrested before they could terrorize another business and its employees. These sentencings send a clear message that violent crime will not be tolerated in our community.”
According to court documents, Jones and Anderson together robbed seven businesses in Columbus between Jan. 18, 2021, and Feb. 22, 2021. On the afternoon of Jan. 18, the defendants robbed both the Little Caesars on Buena Vista Road and the Dollar General on Crystal Drive within an hour and a half of each other. At Little Caesars, the entire cash register was removed from the store and the store employees took cover at the back of the store once they realized the robbers had a gun. At Dollar General, the robbers attempted to take the cash register, failed and fled on foot. Four days later, on Jan. 22, the defendants held up the Forrest Road Package on Forrest Road. One of the robbers pointed a gun in the face of a store employee while the other attempted to rob an employee at the back of the store. The cash register tray was taken. The following day, on Jan. 23, the owner of Jerry’s Food Mart on St. Mary’s Road was robbed at gunpoint by Jones and Anderson. The robbers took the owner’s wallet, store merchandise and cash. On Jan. 27, the owner of the Super C Food Mart on Decatur Street was robbed at gunpoint. The owner refused to give the robbers cash, and Jones fired a round at the cashier, which struck the protective glass barrier. As they exited the building, Jones fired another round at the owner which penetrated the glass barrier, narrowly missing him. The store owner fired his own gun at the assailants. On the evening of Feb. 4, the defendants and another individual robbed the Quality Inn on Macon Road. Jones pointed his handgun at the property owner’s head and stole money out of the hotel safe; the men fled on foot. On Feb. 22 at approximately 8:53 p.m., the defendants robbed the Marco’s Pizza on University Avenue. Jones fired his gun into the air when they entered the restaurant and demanded money. The robbers fled with stolen cash. Several Marco’s Pizza employees quit their jobs after the violent incident. Anderson was taken into custody on April 14, 2021, at a residence in Stockbridge, Georgia. Jones was taken into custody on Aug. 11, 2021, at a motel in Forest Park, Georgia.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Columbus Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams prosecuted the case for the Government.
Columbus Woman Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. –A Columbus, Georgia, resident admitted to possessing photos and videos of children being sexual abused in federal court today, resulting from a joint FBI and GBI investigation into the production and distribution of child pornography online.
Townes Ward Borum, 38, of Columbus, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Clay Land. Borum faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, she is facing up to a lifetime of supervised release and will have to register as a sex offender upon release from federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 29.
“There is an evil online world of adults—hiding behind their screens—who will do and pay anything for the sexual abuse of young children, and there are child predators who will provide this horrific content. It is a sickening reality and one that every level of law enforcement will never stop fighting,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to commend the many law enforcement agencies and community groups involved in this case for their unyielding dedication to protecting children and bringing child predators to justice.”
“People like Borum, who sexually exploit children for monetary gain, do serious lasting harm and facilitate in the continued manufacturing and trading of child sexual abuse material,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to find such predators, and lock them up so they can do no further harm.”
“This case shows how low predators will go to profit from innocent lives. Working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit remains committed to diligently investigating individuals who exploit our children,” said GBI Director Michael Register.
According to facts presented at court, GBI was contacted by law enforcement in New Jersey on May 20, 2022, with information that an adult female in the Middle District of Georgia was distributing nude photos of a young child to a man in their jurisdiction. The initial Cybertip leading to the New Jersey man came from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and a subsequent investigation found digital files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the man’s cell phone. The man told authorities that Borum was providing him with the CSAM material, and that they had been communicating on the Whisper app and by text message. The man said he paid Borum’s rent and other expenses in exchange for sexually explicit photos and videos of young children.
A search warrant was executed by GBI at Borum’s Columbus home on May 21, 2022. Borum’s cell phone was seized; it contained hundreds of images and videos of CSAM, including images of CSAM depicting young children. Her phone also contained numerous messages between Borum and others discussing the exchange of child sexual abuse material for money. Agents also found online advertisements she created and posted to sell child sexual abuse material. Borum admitted to the facts in court.
The plea agreement in this case is sealed at the request of the Government for protection of minor victims.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by GBI, FBI-Atlanta, FBI-Dallas and FBI-Los Angeles, with special assistance from the Bergen County, New Jersey, District Attorney’s Office and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Leesburg, Georgia, Pair Plead Guilty in Armed Meth Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – Two Lee County, Georgia, residents have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to armed methamphetamine trafficking in the community.
Savanna Brook Fore, 23, of Leesburg, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine today. Fore faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. Co-defendant Matthew Cory Tucker, 35, of Leesburg, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on June 7. Tucker faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner is presiding over this case. Sentencing for both defendants has not been scheduled.
“Repeat violent offenders and others committing crimes which threaten peace and safety in our communities will be held to account for their poor choices,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Bringing armed drug traffickers and violent felons to justice is the result of the hard work and dedication of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”
“Poisonous drugs continue to flow into our communities at the expense of too many lives,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “These individuals must now deal with the consequences of their actions.”
“These guilty pleas demonstrate our commitment to holding accountable those who engage in drug trafficking and jeopardize the safety of our communities. We commend the hard work and dedication of our local and federal law enforcement partners in bringing these offenders to justice,” said GBI Director Mike Register.
"It takes continuous and dedicated teamwork to remove repeat offenders from our streets and hold them accountable for their crimes. This case is another example of local, state and federal law enforcement working together to protect citizens," said Lee County Sheriff Reggie Rachals.
According to court documents, Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) deputies pulled over a truck driven by Fore at approximately 1:10 a.m. on June 2, 2022; Tucker was a passenger. Tucker was covered in blood and deputies spotted a firearm near the center console, along with drugs. Tucker was wanted for an alleged domestic assault that occurred earlier that night. Inside the truck, deputies found a .38 super caliber pistol and a .20-gauge shotgun that Tucker took from the domestic assault victim. Tucker has prior felony convictions in Lee County Superior Court, including aggravated assault and theft by taking. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess firearms.
On the rear floorboard of the truck, deputies located a purple bookbag, which had another smaller red bag attached to it. Fore said they belonged to her; inside the bags deputies found 47 baggies filled with a total of 48 grams of methamphetamine, additional baggies containing a variety of illegal controlled substances and a digital scale. Fore had a firearm concealed in her waistband.
Released from jail on bond, deputies learned Fore was continuing to distribute narcotics at a local motel and a family home. GBI and DEA agents, working with a confidential information (CI), made three separate purchases of illegal drugs from Fore, including methamphetamine. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Fore’s family home on Aug. 3, 2022, seizing her cell phone, which revealed conversations between Fore and others about drug deals.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by DEA, GBI, LCSO and the Leesburg Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Redavid is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Blood Gang Leader Armed with Machine Gun Pleads Guilty with Co-Conspirator to Distributing Fentanyl from ChinaRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – The leader of the 1831 Piru Blood criminal street gang in Athens and a co-conspirator pleaded guilty to federal fentanyl distribution charges this week resulting from “Operation Tourniquet,” a lengthy FBI-led investigation.
Gregory O’Neal Wade, Jr. aka “Woop” aka “Big Homie” aka “OOG,” 31, of Athens, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl and one count of possession of an illegal machine gun. Wade, Jr. faces a mandatory minimum of ten years up to a maximum sentence of life in prison to be followed by a maximum of five years of supervised release and a maximum $10,000,000 fine. Co-defendant Johnathan Edward Brown aka “Zeus,” 31, formerly of Riverdale, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Brown faces a mandatory minimum of ten years up to a maximum sentence of life in prison to be followed by a maximum of five years of supervised release and a maximum $1,000,000 fine. The hearings occurred before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III on June 20. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3, 2023.
“Fentanyl, Glock switches and gangs is a particularly deadly combination and one which has no place on the streets of Athens,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Operation Tourniquet’s success is the result of the excellent partnership between many law enforcement agencies focused on reducing violent crime and the spread of fentanyl.”
“The gangs pushing deadly fentanyl in our communities have a role in fueling the deadliest drug epidemic our country has ever seen,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is determined to continue working with our partners to cut the head off the snake by targeting the leaders of these operations and removing them from our streets.”
“Criminal street gangs continue to wreak havoc in Georgia communities,” said GBI Director Mike Register. “The results from Operation Tourniquet underscore the importance of law enforcement partnerships to tackle violent crimes and these serious drug offenses. The GBI remains committed to working with our local and federal partners.”
“This successful outcome of Operation Tourniquet is a testament to the invaluable partnerships we have with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The collaborative efforts have allowed us to disrupt a significant threat to our community,” said Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “I want to emphasize that we will not tolerate the presence of gangs, or the distribution of deadly substances like fentanyl within our community and will continue to prioritize our efforts against such networks.”
According to court documents, Wade and his 1831 Piru associates were the subjects of a lengthy joint investigation into violent crime and fentanyl distribution in the Athens-Clarke County region named “Operation Tourniquet.” The 1831 Piru Bloods are a set of the nationally affiliated Piru street gang, which originated in the 1960s in Compton, California. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the 1831 Piru Bloods engaged in numerous illegal acts involving drugs and firearms in the Athens-area, when Wade was its leader. The criminal street gang claimed two Athens apartment complexes as their territory—The Flats and Regency Park Apartments, referred to as “The Trenches” by gang members—and frequently sold guns and drugs from those locations.
As a result of “Operation Tourniquet,” agents ultimately executed a search warrant at Wade’s Jennings Mill Parkway apartment in July 2021. Wade attempted to evade arrest by leaping out of a third story window but was quickly apprehended by a police K-9 and his handler. Inside the apartment, officers found Brown and D’Angelo Caleb Perkins aka “Yak,” 26, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, who had been staying with Wade. The apartment contained almost a kilogram of fentanyl, approximately 90 grams of cocaine and over eight pounds of marijuana. In Wade’s bedroom dresser drawer, officers found a Glock 19 with an auto sear switch, a mechanism that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic machine gun. In the same drawer, a 30-round extended magazine and a 50-round drum (high capacity) magazine was recovered. Wade admitted that he kept the machine gun as protection from those who might do him harm. Officers found additional firearms, a “kilo press” used to compress illegal drugs purchased by Brown and a money counter in Wade’s apartment.
On June 6, 2021, Brown communicated with a drug supplier in China who was using the name "Convert.” Brown requested to purchase one kilogram of fentanyl to which Convert sent a reply message: "Sorry, the product you interested are controlled product in China." Brown then began to communicate over WhatsApp with a new source named "Marcus" and negotiated a one-kilogram fentanyl transaction. Wade, along with Brown, admitted to buying and selling large quantities of fentanyl and other drugs for distribution in the Athens community.
Co-conspirator Perkins is wanted on multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Perkins remains at-large. Anyone with information regarding Perkins’ whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the FBI Athens Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the GBI Gang Unit, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department Gang Unit, the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Columbus Armed Robber Sentenced to Prison for 2021 Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus man who committed a series of armed robberies with his stepbrother in 2021, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison by a federal judge this week.
Quentin Anderson, 29, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 14; Anderson previously pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit an offense on Feb. 24. Co-defendant, Janerio Jones, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence on Dec. 20, 2022, and faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of robbery and a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine for the firearm charge. Jones’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The Columbus business community was terrorized in early 2021 when Anderson and Jones robbed employees of several local businesses at gunpoint; I am thankful no lives were lost during this violent crime spree,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office prioritizes prosecutions against violent offenders and in collaboration with law enforcement, we will continue to do everything in our power to reduce violence and hold dangerous criminals accountable.”
“No one should ever be terrorized physically or emotionally, like the victims in these violent armed robberies were,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the assistance from our local law enforcement partners, Anderson will spend a long time behind bars where he won’t be able to wreak havoc on any more innocent civilians."
“In the span of a few days, the defendants charted a path of violent armed robberies at multiple businesses across Columbus. Thanks to the collaborative effort with our state and federal partners, these individuals were arrested before they could terrorize another business and its employees. The recent sentencing and plea send a clear message that acts of armed robbery will not be tolerated in our community,” said Columbus Police Department Deputy Chief Lance Deaton.
According to court documents, Jones and Anderson together robbed seven businesses in Columbus between Jan. 18, 2021, and Feb. 22, 2021. On the afternoon of Jan. 18, the defendants robbed both the Little Caesars on Buena Vista Road and the Dollar General on Crystal Drive within an hour and a half of each other. At Little Caesars, the entire cash register was removed from the store and the store employees took cover at the back of the store once they realized the robbers had a gun. At Dollar General, the robbers attempted to take the cash register, failed and fled on foot. Four days later, on Jan. 22, the defendants held up the Forrest Road Package on Forrest Road. One of the robbers pointed a gun in the face of a store employee while the other attempted to rob an employee at the back of the store. The cash register tray was taken. The following day, on Jan. 23, the owner of Jerry’s Food Mart on St. Mary’s Road was robbed at gunpoint by Jones and Anderson. The robbers took the owner’s wallet, store merchandise and cash. On Jan. 27, the owner of the Super C Food Mart on Decatur Street was robbed at gunpoint. The owner refused to give the robbers cash, and Jones fired a round at the cashier, which struck the protective glass barrier. As they exited the building, Jones fired another round at the owner which penetrated the glass barrier, narrowly missing him. The store owner fired his own gun at the assailants. On the evening of Feb. 4, the defendants and another individual robbed the Quality Inn on Macon Road. Jones pointed his handgun at the property owner’s head and stole money out of the hotel safe; the men fled on foot. On Feb. 22 at approximately 8:53 p.m., the defendants robbed the Marco’s Pizza on University Avenue. Jones fired his gun into the air when they entered the restaurant and demanded money. The robbers fled with stolen cash. Several Marco’s Pizza employees quit their jobs after the violent incident. Anderson was taken into custody on April 14, 2021, at a residence in Stockbridge, Georgia. Jones was taken into custody on Aug. 11, 2021, at a motel in Forest Park, Georgia.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Columbus Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams prosecuted the case for the Government.
Columbus Resident Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft resulting from an investigation that originated with citizen complaints about a suspected driver’s license renewal scheme.
Amanah Childs, 43, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft before U.S. District Judge Clay Land on June 13. Childs faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and a maximum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. Childs also faces a maximum of three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine for each count. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 29. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The defendant attempted to defraud taxpayers and used unsuspecting citizen’s personal information to commit these crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This case is a good reminder to all of us to carefully protect our personal identifying information and report suspected fraud to the authorities. Working with our law enforcement partners, our office will hold fraudsters accountable.”
“This is a great example of law enforcement partners working together to investigate and identify a fraudster illegally obtaining funds for her own personal gain,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). “Postal Inspectors will not cease in their ongoing efforts to protect the nation’s mail system from criminal misuse.”
“IRS-CI special agents and our federal and local law enforcement partners worked together to stop Childs from her attempts to defraud taxpayers and the federal government,” said Lisa Fontanette, acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Child’s guilty plea serves as a warning to individuals contemplating committing fraud that they better find a legal means to make a living, or they will face the same consequences.”
“When the Columbus Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit began this investigation, we already had 100 victims throughout the country, including Columbus, Georgia. Two search warrants of Childs’ residence, numerous arrest warrants and several court appearances later, we are getting to see justice achieved. This would not be possible without our amazing partners at the IRS and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service who see the importance of fraud and financial investigations, especially the horrific impact it has on our citizens, society and economy. This also sends a strong message to people who commit these types of crimes that they, too, could face similar punishment,” said Sgt. Jane Edenfield with the Columbus Police Department.
According to court documents, the Columbus Police Department began receiving complaints from people in the community and other states in 2021 about an unknown person using a Columbus, Georgia, address to apply for driver’s license renewals and replacements in their names. Law enforcement suspected this was an attempt to fraudulently apply for credit cards. A subsequent investigation revealed that Childs lived at the address and a search warrant was executed at the residence; investigators found driver’s license replacement and renewal paperwork, credit cards and mail in other people’s names. In addition, evidence revealed that Childs was applying for federal loans in other people’s names without their knowledge or authorization. Law enforcement identified 20 instances where Childs fraudulently applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). All the applications, except one, were rejected by the program for suspected fraud. Fourteen fraudulent applications were submitted in the names of other people, using their means of identification and personal identifying information in the online application. Childs also submitted six fraudulent applications in her own name claiming nonexistent businesses with spurious gross revenues, costs of goods sold and other false information. The total intended loss was $1,006,600; the actual loss was $10,000. Childs used the name of a victim to get an advance on an EIDL loan for $10,000.
The case was investigated by the Columbus Police Department, IRS and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Five-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Wallet GunRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident with multiple violent felony convictions pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a wallet gun, a type of firearm that can be easily concealed and must be registered under federal law.
Johnny Carl Sandefur, Jr., 52, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on June 8. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing for is scheduled for Sept. 6. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Violent criminal felons caught in possession of any firearm—especially highly concealable weapons like a wallet gun—will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we are working to bring repeat violent offenders to justice.”
“This case demonstrates the strong collaboration that exists between law enforcement at the local, state and federal level, as we work to hold dangerous felons accountable and make the communities we serve safer,” said Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERTF) Sr. Inspector Chris Wright.
“The law-abiding citizens of this community are safer because of this guilty plea which will ensure the incarceration of a dangerous criminal and contribute to the restoration of order and peace to this area,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.
According to documents and other evidence admitted into court, the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF) attempted to execute an arrest warrant for a person wanted for aggravated assault on a peace officer on Nov. 3, 2022, on Skipperton Rd. in Macon. SERFTF agents located the wanted person and Sandefur, who both fled. Sandefur was taken into custody in possession of a .22 magnum derringer wallet gun, two knives and methamphetamine. The wallet gun was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by federal law. Sandefur had active warrants in Bibb County and Houston County, Georgia, at the time of this incident. In addition, he has multiple prior felony convictions including aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, terroristic threats and theft by receiving. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case for the Government.
NE Georgia Man Convicted of Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – A Madison County, Georgia, resident was convicted by a federal jury yesterday evening of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), days after GBI investigators discovered evidence that he was continuing to distribute CSAM on a social media app and had concurrently cut off his ankle monitor to escape custody.
Christopher Snow, 35, of Carlton, Georgia, was convicted on June 7 of one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material following a two-day trial that began on June 6 before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self, III. Snow faces a mandatory minimum of five years up to a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count, for a maximum of 40 years in prison. In addition, he is facing up to a lifetime of supervised release and will have to register as a sex offender upon release from federal prison. Snow will remain in federal custody awaiting sentencing on Oct. 3 in Athens.
“By cutting his ankle monitor prior to trial, Snow attempted to evade justice for actively distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material involving young children; he’s lost his freedom and will no longer be able to hurt innocent and vulnerable kids in this way,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “It often takes many different groups to stop a child predator, as demonstrated in this case. I am thankful for the excellent collaboration at every level to protect children.”
“This conviction serves as a strong reminder of our commitment to protecting children from the atrocities of child sexual abuse. The GBI remains resolute in its pursuit of justice and will not tolerate those who exploit the innocence of our most vulnerable population,” said GBI Director Mike Register.
“Snow not only distributed the disturbing material for years but didn’t stop even after he was under arrest and facing trial,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that people like this receive their full measure of justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, GBI received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in Aug. 2018 that a Facebook user distributed suspected CSAM via Facebook Messenger. As a part of their investigation, GBI was able to determine that the user of that Facebook account resided in Carlton, Madison County, Georgia. A search warrant was executed at Snow’s residence in Carlton; law enforcement seized several electronic devices that Snow kept in a padlocked room. A digital forensic examiner later determined that those electronic devices, including the phone that was found on Snow the day of the search warrant, contained at least 45 images and 17 videos of CSAM. The material contained images of children under the age of 12.
As a condition of Snow’s pretrial release, he was required to wear an ankle monitor and not have access to electronic devices. On June 1, 2023, GBI received an additional Cybertip indicating that Snow may have been continuing to distribute CSAM on the Kik messenger app in 2022, while awaiting trial. Snow was scheduled for a federal hearing on June 2 prior to his trial but cut off his ankle monitor on June 1. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals on June 5.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the GBI, with assistance from the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Kalim and Robert McCullers are prosecuting the case for the Government.Co-Conspirator in Middle Georgia Criminal Meth Organization SentencedRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – Two co-conspirators involved in an armed drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing 16 kilograms of methamphetamine in Middle Georgia had court hearings recently.
Tamara Hall, 40, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 210 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after she previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 19, 2022. Benjamin Luopa, 48, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to two counts of use of a communication facility. Luopa faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for each count. The hearings occurred before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III on May 25. Sentencing for Luopa is scheduled for Sept.7. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Tamara Hall played a significant role in co-conspirator Ontarrio Veal’s armed criminal organization pushing many kilograms of methamphetamine into the Warner Robins area,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “With the rise of fentanyl, it’s no secret that street drugs are even more dangerous, plus the other crimes that develop around this level of armed drug trafficking all contribute to community erosion. Thanks to the effort of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a significant supply of methamphetamine is cut off and the community is safer for it.”
“This investigation deals a fatal blow to a once-thriving ‘meth’ ring,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The citizens of Warner Robins and elsewhere can rest assured that their communities are much safer today thanks to the outstanding case work by DEA and our local law enforcement partners.”
“ATF considers the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force a critical partner in its long-term mission of removing armed gangs, criminals and narcotics traffickers from our communities,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Atlanta Field Division.
“The Warner Robins Police Department is honored to have worked in conjunction with our federal partners through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force which resulted in the outcome of this case,” said Assistant Chief Wayne Fisher, Warner Robins Police Department. “It is through such local, state and federal partnerships that impacts such as these can be realized. It was with great work and effort from the men and women of this task force which resulted in these arrests that will have an immeasurable impact for the good of our shared communities.”
According to documents and other evidence admitted into court, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and Warner Robins Police Department officers investigated Ontarrio Veal’s Warner Robins-based drug trafficking organization from Jan. to June 2020. Law enforcement obtained court orders to intercept the phone calls and text messages from Veal’s and Hall’s cell phones. Agents learned that Veal was a multi-kilogram methamphetamine dealer and surveilled Veal, Hall and various co-defendants conducting methamphetamine transactions and traveling to Atlanta to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine.
Veal was taken into custody in June 2020, on a return trip from Atlanta in possession of three kilograms of methamphetamine and a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with a 50-round drum magazine. Agents executed search warrants at various locations in Middle Georgia, seizing multiple firearms and ammunition, methamphetamine and more than $100,000 cash. Hall is being held responsible for distributing 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine. The organization is responsible for distributing more than 16 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The following co-defendants have pleaded guilty and/or been sentenced:
Ontarrio Veal aka “Torrie,” 33, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Nov. 15, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 420 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on April 4;
Matthew Kay, 36, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Sept. 6, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 235 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release to run consecutively to three sentences he is currently serving in Houston County, Georgia, on Jan. 19.;
Reginald Lowe, 41, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 30, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release to run consecutively to a state sentence he is currently serving in Houston County, Georgia, for an aggravated assault conviction on Dec. 6, 2022;
Milton Simmons aka Mann, 41, of Macon, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 1, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 120 months on Jan. 10;
Donna Ussery, 31, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 19, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison on Oct. 4, 2022;
Parsa Ervin, 45, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to two counts of use of a communication facility to conspire to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 30, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release to run consecutively to any term of imprisonment that may be imposed in three separate cases in Houston County on Jan. 19.;
Marquell Gaines aka Paris, 38, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility to conspire to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 19, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison on Oct. 11, 2022;
Victor Mendoza, 34, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to drugs on Dec. 1, 2022, via a global plea agreement in the Southern District of Alabama and sentencing is scheduled for June 2; and
Eddie Linkhorn, 42, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to two counts of use of a communication facility to conspire to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 20, 2022, and sentencing is scheduled for June 6.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Warner Robins Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes.
SW Georgia Resident Pleads Guilty to Firearms Charge, Sold Stolen RiflesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – An Americus, Georgia, resident with a criminal history pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm after he was arrested stealing rifles from the local Walmart, which he sold for cash and drugs.
Brandon Michael Hatfield, 31, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon today before U.S. District Judge Leslie A. Gardner. Hatfield faces a maximum of 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The defendant stole several rifles in a matter of weeks, flipping them quickly for cash and drugs and thereby increasing the number of stolen firearms on the streets of Americus,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Law enforcement at every level is working to reduce the number of firearms in the hands of criminals in an effort to improve the safety within every community across the Middle District of Georgia.”
“The unlawful acquisition and selling of firearms are serious crimes that feed and intensify the violence that plagues so many communities here and abroad," said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. "This investigation illustrates the collective resolve of ATF and our law enforcement partners working together to make a safer community.”
According to court documents, Hatfield attempted to steal a Rossi, 22LR caliber rifle from the Walmart in Americus, Georgia, on Nov. 18, 2022, but was stopped by Walmart employees before he could exit the store with the weapon. An investigation by Walmart’s security team revealed that Hatfield stole a total of five rifles on five different occasions from the store between Nov. 1 and Nov. 16. Hatfield admitted that he stole the firearms and traded them for money and drugs.
Hatfield has been convicted of several felonies, including dealing methamphetamine, escape and residential entry in Decatur County, Indiana, Superior Court. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
The case was investigated by ATF and the Americus Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Two-Time Bank Robber Pleads Guilty, Targets Same Bank LocationRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident recently released from federal prison for robbing a local bank in 2013 pleaded guilty this week to attempting to rob a bank at the same location, calling his probation officer to report his own crime.
William Jeffrey Lowder, Jr., 41, pleaded guilty to attempted bank robbery before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on May 23. Lowder faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has not been scheduled. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The defendant’s choice to attempt to rob a community bank located near a busy university campus caused unnecessary panic in a peaceful place of business,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “As Mr. Lowder well knows, individuals who threaten the peace will face consequences. I want to thank the U.S. Probation Office, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI for their quick response.”
“Lowder’s prior prison time was apparently not enough of a teaching moment for him because he returned to his bank robbing ways while he was still on supervised release for the last bank robbery he committed,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the assistance of our partners with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, he’ll have up to 20 years in federal prison to think about what he’ll do the next time he is released from prison.”
According to facts presented in court, Lowder walked into the Truist Bank on Mercer University Drive in Macon at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Jan. 27. He approached a teller and handed over a note that read, “Money out the register, no dye packs, Sorry!” Lowder reached behind his back, which the clerk believed meant that he had a firearm; Lowder did not have a weapon. When he was told that the clerk did not have a register, Lowder left the bank.
Lowder was recently released from federal prison for robbing a bank at the same location in 2013 and was serving a term of supervised release. An hour after leaving the bank, Lowder called his U.S. Probation officer to report his crime and his location. The defendant was quickly taken into custody in Macon. The bank robbery was captured on surveillance cameras.
The case was investigated by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Probation Office and FBI.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the government.
Columbus Man with Criminal History Pleads Guilty to Stolen Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident with a lengthy criminal history pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm after leading a state trooper on a high-speed chase while he was wanted on multiple state warrants.
Carlos Mathis, 35, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm before U.S. District Judge Clay Land on May 23. Mathis faces a maximum of ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 8. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold armed repeat and violent offenders accountable when they have stolen guns or illegally possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to use every resource available to improve community safety.”
“Criminals must understand that there are serious repercussions for the illegal possession of firearms. ATF and our law enforcement partners will contribute all necessary time and effort to ensure criminals are brought to justice,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.
According to court documents, at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Oct. 2, 2022, a Georgia Department of Public Safety officer attempted to pull over a vehicle traveling 112 mph on I-185 in Muscogee County, Georgia. The vehicle increased its speed, made improper lane changes and abruptly exited the interstate at Manchester Expressway, narrowly missing another vehicle. The fleeing vehicle careened out of control and stuck a concrete median before spinning around and traveling the wrong way (going west in the eastbound lanes) down Manchester Expressway towards the I-185 exit ramp. To prevent a catastrophic collision, the trooper employed a pit maneuver to disable the vehicle. The vehicle came to a stop in the roadway and the driver, Mathis, fled from the vehicle into a wooded area and was quickly apprehended without further incident.
A stolen and loaded Sig Sauer 9mm pistol was found on the driver’s side floorboard. A backpack was located behind the passenger seat which contained three large bags of marijuana and a digital scale with residue on it. Mathis was wanted on several outstanding warrants at the time. He has multiple state felony convictions in Georgia including criminal attempt to commit a felony, giving an inmate a prohibited item without authorization, burglary and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Georgia Department of Safety, the Columbus Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting the case for the government.
Prisoner Caught Hiding Homemade Knives Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – An Athens resident with a lengthy and violent criminal history entered guilty pleas in two separate cases recently, admitting he hid homemade knives while in prison on a federal firearms charge.
Michael Anthony Randall, 32, of Athens, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Case No. 3:22-cr-00023 and one count of possession of contraband while in jail in Case No. 3:22-cr-28 on May 16. Randall faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine for illegally possessing a firearm and five years in prison and a $250,000 for possessing contraband. Randall was on supervised release at the time of the offense for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Case No. 3:18-cr30. Sentencing is scheduled for July 9. There is no parole in the federal system.
“In fairly quick succession—including shortly before a federal hearing for his second offense for illegally possessing a firearm—Michael Randall was caught with a weapon, putting himself and others in danger,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This case illustrates the unceasing effort put forth by law enforcement to keep inmates and the community as a safe as possible from repeat and dangerous offenders.”
“Michael Randall is the definition of a repeat offender,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep dangerous criminals like Randall off Georgia streets.”
“These incidents illustrate the importance of our professional partnerships. The Butts County staff did an excellent job in supervising this inmate and identifying his illegal acts. USMS investigators presented a case to the U.S. Attorney which yielded a successful prosecution. We work hard to ensure the safety of those that we are charged with safeguarding,” said U.S. Marshal Stephen D. Lynn.
“We have a duty to ensure the inmates’ rights are protected and they are in a safe environment,” said Butts County Sheriff Gary Long. “We are thankful for our strong working relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service to help us hold accountable those inmates who put the safety of others at risk.”
According to court documents, Randall was indicted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Oct. 11, 2022, in the Middle District of Georgia, after he was arrested for illegally possessing a .380 pistol in Athens, on Jan. 12, 2021. Randall has multiple prior state felony convictions in North Carolina and Georgia, including assault with serious bodily injury and drug convictions. Randall was also previously convicted in the Middle District of Georgia for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
On Nov. 8, 2022, while in custody awaiting his initial appearance in federal court, Butts County Jail officers found a shank—a handmade knife—hidden on Randall’s person. Officers found another shank on Randall on Nov. 10, prior to his federal court appearance. On Dec. 16, Randall was found with another shank inside the Butts County Jail.
The case was investigated by FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Butts County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Jarrett is prosecuting the case for the Government.
South Georgia Man Sentenced as Career Offender for Armed Meth DistributionRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Valdosta, Georgia, resident with a lengthy criminal drug distribution history was sentenced as a federal career offender after admitting to distributing methamphetamine from a motel room in South Georgia.
Thomas Charles Singletary, 45, was sentenced to serve 130 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on May 17, after he previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Armed convicted felons distributing highly dangerous drugs in the Middle District of Georgia will face the possibility of federal prosecution for repeatedly breaking the law and putting our citizens at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “We are collaborating with our law enforcement partners at every level to make our communities safer.”
According to court documents, a confidential source tipped off Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) investigators about illegal drugs being sold from a motel room in Lake Park, Georgia. On Feb. 4, 2021, LCSO investigators found Singletary, a known convicted felon, in the room with a handgun and drug paraphernalia visible. Singletary admitted the firearm—a .380 caliber, semi-automatic pistol—was his for protection. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. A search of the room recovered the firearm, multiple ammunition rounds and a bag of methamphetamine. Text messages found on the cell phone of an individual with Singletary revealed evidence that they were involved in distributing methamphetamine in Adel, Georgia.
Singletary has at least six felony convictions in the Superior Courts of Tift County, Georgia, Berrien County, Georgia, and Lowndes County, Georgia, to include possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McCullers is prosecuting the case for the government.
SW Georgia Resident Charged with Fentanyl Distribution Resulting from GBI-led InvestigationRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A federal criminal complaint charging an Albany resident with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine was unsealed this week.
Larry Sparks aka “Detroit,” 45, had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Thomas Q. Langstaff at the U.S. Courthouse in Albany on May 18 and was ordered detained by the Court. Sparks is charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, Sparks faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Sparks is scheduled to have his detention hearing in Macon, Georgia, next week. The criminal complaint was unsealed on May 18.
According to court proceedings and the criminal complaint, in March 2023, a GBI-led wire-tap undercover investigation began into the defendant’s alleged distribution of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine in Southwest Georgia from his residence at 1501 Pinecrest Dr. in Albany and other locations in the city. Sparks is allegedly associated with several controlled substances overdoses resulting in deaths dating back to 2018. A federal search warrant was executed at the Pinecrest Dr. residence on May 16; agents seized 1,265 grams of fentanyl, 3,027 grams of methamphetamine and seven firearms. Sparks is a convicted felon.
The case was investigated by the GBI Southwestern Drug Enforcement Office in Albany, the DEA, the Albany Police Department, the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, the Dougherty County Police Department, the Dougherty County District Attorney’s Office, the Americus Police Department, the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office and the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Security Subcontractor Pleads Guilty to Bomb Threat of Local Democratic Campaign OfficeRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A former security subcontractor working at the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Party coordinated campaign office pleaded guilty to threatening to bomb their local headquarters while the U.S. Senators from Georgia were in town for campaign events.
Jessica Diane Higginbotham aka Jessica Harriod aka Jessica Jones, 35, of Elberton, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of communicating a bomb today before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III. Higginbotham faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7.
“The bomb threat was leveled by an employee working for a political organization days before a federal election in Georgia; this incident was a targeted effort to disturb the peace and disrupt the democratic process,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The immediate response and seamless collaboration by all levels of law enforcement safeguarded the community and helped bring the defendant to justice.”
“The FBI takes all threat-to-life matters very seriously,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This guilty plea demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to hold accountable anyone who tries to intimidate public officials and undermine the foundation of our democracy. It also shows that threatening others with violence and physical harm will have serious repercussions.”
"The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and security of all individuals in our community. This incident was a grave and concerning matter; however, thanks to the swift response and collaborative efforts, the threat was successfully investigated, and the individual responsible was apprehended,” said ACCPD Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “We will continue to work diligently to safeguard our community and uphold the values that bind us together. Acts of violence and threats have no place in our society, and we stand united against those who seek to harm others or disrupt our democratic processes.”
According to court documents, on Dec. 3, 2022, at 6:01 p.m., an employee of the DSCC in Athens received a text message: “Hello, I am writing this message to you to let you know that I am coming by either tonight or in the morning to set a bomb up. So I can blow all the Democrats up. I have other people going to other offices also. If I can’t stop you by breaking in and destroying the property then I will blow every one up. So be ready to be blown up. This is going to either happen tonight or in the morning. Hope you like being on the wrong team.”
The FBI began investigating the threat immediately, and officers with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) responded to the area of the threat. The U.S. Senate runoff election was scheduled to take place on Dec. 6, and elected officials were in Athens participating in campaign events, including both U.S. Senators from Georgia on Dec. 4. Using a series of emergency disclosure requests (EDRs), FBI agents discovered the cell phone belonged to the defendant, who was also working as a contract security officer for a firm employed by the local Democratic coordinated campaign. The U.S. Capitol Police were also investigating the bomb threat, and independently determined that the bomb threat was sent from Higginbotham’s cell phone.
On Dec. 4, FBI task force officers located Higginbotham at a coffee shop in Athens with the cell phone in her hands. When she saw the agents approach her, she vomited. At first, she denied sending the bomb threat. A federal search warrant was executed on her cell phone, which linked the email account used in the bomb threat to her. While investigating the bomb threat, agents learned that there had been a break-in at the local Democratic campaign building in Athens on Nov. 27, and a laptop belonging to the campaign was stolen. At the time of the burglary, investigators noted that it appeared to be staged as tables were turned over, but the building was locked with no evidence of a forced entry. Investigators later recovered the stolen laptop with Higginbotham’s personal items. Higginbotham now admits that she used a cell phone to willfully threaten to kill or injure people and unlawfully destroy a building with an explosive.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will R. Keyes is prosecuting the case.
South Georgia Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Bainbridge, Georgia, resident with a criminal history pleaded guilty to illegally possessing multiple firearms after he was arrested on gun charges during an on-going death investigation.
Derius Raoule Green, 32, of Bainbridge, Georgia, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon today before U.S. District Judge Leslie A. Gardner. Green faces a maximum of ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing is expected to occur within 90 days. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The safety of our citizens is at risk when violent, repeat offenders pick up a gun,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to use every resource available to make our communities more secure."
“Convicted felons cannot possess guns and will face serious consequences for having them,” said Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “Today’s guilty plea ensures that Derius Green is removed from the community for a long time, where he will not be able to harm others.”
According to court documents, Decatur County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) deputies found a deceased male with two gunshot wounds on Aug. 30. 2021, and that the victim may have been in a recent feud with Green. Green was wanted on three outstanding warrants. Deputies executed a search warrant at Green’s Bainbridge property, finding a shotgun, a .22 caliber rifle and ammunition. On Sept. 2, 2021, Green was located and taken into custody in Port Saint Joe, Florida. Green told officers that the gun-shot victim owed him money for an AR-15 rifle. Green is not facing criminal charges in that local investigation.
Green has prior felony convictions to include interference with government property and reckless conduct and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute in Decatur County, Georgia, Superior Court. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
The case was investigated by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid is prosecuting the case for the government.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Armed Meth DistributionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A South Georgia resident with a lengthy criminal history who led law enforcement on a high-speed motorcycle chase while in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine and an illegally possessed firearm was sentenced to prison for his crime.
Uriah Wade Hall, 46, of Adel, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Louis Sands on May 5. Hall previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This defendant endangered himself, law enforcement and many other motorists during his reckless attempt to evade justice for armed methamphetamine trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I appreciate the brave efforts of our law enforcement partners who run towards danger to keep our community safe.”
“Hall put not only himself but countless others at risk by his escape attempt as he carried a large amount of meth and illegally carried a weapon. I would like to thank our law enforcement partners who brought his dangerous actions to an end,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta “The FBI will not stop in finding and bringing to justice those who repeatedly break the law.”
According to court documents, a Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) deputy observed Hall riding his silver Suzuki Busa motorcycle with a skull decal at speeds more than 20 miles above the posted limit on Nov. 6, 2021, on Shiloh Road in Hahira, Georgia. Hall increased his speed when the deputy attempted to pull him over, then slowed down near the interstate ramp. Hall made a motion with two fingers indicating he was continuing to flee, and entered the southbound ramp onto I-75, increasing his speed up to 145 mph for more than 20 miles.
Two Georgia State Patrol (GSP) units joined the pursuit and attempted to execute a rolling roadblock. Hall was able to accelerate and evade the first attempt; the second attempt was successful. Hall lost control of the motorcycle, coming to rest on the ground in the far-left lane of travel. EMS was called and deputies rendered medical aid to Hall.
Hall was in possession of a loaded 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol, 829 grams of methamphetamine, a small quantity of heroin, digital scales with white powder residue and $1,610 cash. Hall had previously been convicted of several felony offenses, including burglary, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and giving a false name to law enforcement. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit prosecuted the case for the Government.