Southern District of Georgia

BRUNSWICK, Georgia:  Two defendants associated with a drug distribution conspiracy have been sentenced to federal prison.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Alen Addison, 54, of Brunswick, Georgia, was sentenced to 82 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Substituted Cathinone. 

His co-defendant, Minus Tyler, 45, of Brunswick, was previously sentenced to 48 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to Use of a Communication Facility. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

As described in court documents and testimony, from April 2023 through August 2023, Addison and Tyler conspired to distribute cathinone in Glynn County. The two defendants utilized Facebook Messenger as a method to communicate the sale and distribution of cathinone. 

Synthetic cathinones are derivatives of the naturally occurring compound cathinone, the main psychoactive ingredient in the khat plant Catha edulis. Like amphetamines, synthetic cathinones are psychomotor stimulants that exert their effects by impairing normal brain functions. Overall, a National Library of Medicine study of the Neuropharmacology of Synthetic Cathinones shows that certain synthetic cathinones are powerful drugs of abuse that could pose significant risk to users.

“Synthetic substances like cathinone are a real threat to communities,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This investigation was the result of intuitive law enforcement that succeeded in identifying the pathway of these illicit drugs, tracing it to the distributor and resulted in this prosecution, and protecting our citizens from these dangerous substances.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Glynn County Sheriff’s Office. 

“The outcome of this case is a testament to the professionalism and perseverance of the investigators who worked together throughout this investigation,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “DEA and our partner agencies combined resources, expertise, and investigative information to uncover the scope of the conspiracy and build a case for prosecution. We are grateful for the commitment of every agency and individual who contributed to this joint effort.”

This case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. Harper III and Jennifer J. Kirkland. 

AUGUSTA, Georgia: A Dearing man has been sentenced in federal court for distributing methamphetamine.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. 

Shawn Duwell Grier, 54, of Dearing, Georgia, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and a $2,500 fine followed by four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 grams or more of Methamphetamine.

Grier’s co-defendant, Willie Miles, 80, of Augusta, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine. 

There is no parole in the federal system. 

According to court documents and testimony, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiated an investigation into the distribution of narcotics by Grier. With the assistance of the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office, investigators conducted a search of Grier’s residence where large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine were discovered. 

Investigators determined that Grier would receive quantities of methamphetamine from a distributor in Atlanta, and on at least one occasion, he directed Miles to make the pick-up and delivery. 

“Peddling dangerous narcotics inflicts profound harm on our communities, fueling addiction and undermining public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Thanks to the dedicated, collaborative efforts of the DEA and the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office, these individuals have been held accountable, and a significant supply of dangerous drugs have been permanently removed from our streets.”

“Methamphetamine distribution threatens the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This 10-year sentence represents accountability and is the result of law-enforcement officers working together to investigate and disrupt the illegal drug trade. We thank the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office for their partnership and continued commitment to keeping dangerous drugs out of our communities.”

The DEA and McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of this case and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants have been indicted by the September term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia for various charges, including kidnapping, firearms offenses, drug charges, and immigration violations.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:

• Eshon Grant, 34, of Savannah, indicted for two counts of Interference with Commerce by Robbery, two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Brandon L. Graddy, 41, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and for Possession of a Firearm during and in relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime.
• Tommy Browner Jr., 40, of Rayle, Georgia, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Terrick Barice Griggs, 37, of Savannah, indicted for Kidnapping.
• Raheem Kirkland, 30, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Calvin C. Britt, 59, of Hephzibah, Georgia, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Damien Deshawn Stubbs, 36, of Augusta, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Anthony Torres, 35, a citizen of Mexico, indicted for Possession of Fraudulent Immigration Documents and Aggravated Identity Theft.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases listed above have been investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Savannah Police Department and local law enforcement agencies. These cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew A. Breedon, Tara M. Lyons, Steven T. Poland, Bradley R. Thompson, Joshua Kyle Davis, Henry W. Syms Jr., Marcela Mateo, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karl I. Knoche. 

BRUNSWICK, Georgia: Multiple defendants, one of whom was a Bureau of Prisons correctional officer, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a scheme to introduce contraband into Federal Correctional Institute – Jesup (FCI-Jesup).

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. 

Ashley Brown, a/k/a “Honey Honey,” a/k/a “Bonnie Bonnie,” a/k/a “Clyde Clyde,” 37, of Hinesville, Georgia, was sentenced to 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to 24 counts of a Public Official Accepting a Bribe and 16 counts of Money Laundering.

According to court documents and testimony, from May 2022 and continuing through September 2022, Brown was employed as a correctional officer and later as a material handler supervisor at FCI-Jesup, when investigators initiated an investigation into a report of U.S. currency being sent to Brown from inmates inside FCI-Jesup. 

Investigators determined that inmates sent money to Brown using Cash App in exchange for Brown to smuggle contraband, including methamphetamine, cell phones, K2, and marijuana, into the prison, before providing it to the codefendants, who would distribute it to other inmates through the commissary system. Brown received more than $80,000 for her role in the scheme. 

All additional defendants associated with this case have also been sentenced, they include:

• Adrian Sims, a/k/a “Abe,” 53, an inmate at the FCI-Jesup, was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possessing Contraband in Prison.
• Navarus Bryant, a/k/a “Tez,” 48, an inmate at the FCI-Jesup, was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to 24 counts of Paying a Bribe to a Public Official and 24 counts of Money Laundering. 

There is no parole in the federal system. 

“Public officials within a prison are entrusted with maintaining the safety and integrity of our penal institutions, and those who trade that public trust for personal profit compromise the security of everyone inside,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to relentlessly prosecute those who exploit their position to undermine the justice system.” 

The case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.

“Introducing drugs and cell phones into a prison puts the whole facility at risk and violates the basic principles of what it means to be a correctional officer," stated Special Agent in Charge Eric Fehlman of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General's Southeast Region. "The DOJ OIG will continue working with its law enforcement partners to bring to justice anyone who violates their oath and engages in this type of conduct."

This case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley R. Thompson and former Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan E. Bondura. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two Georgia men have been sentenced to prison following firearms related plea agreements in separate cases.

The sentences were imposed in U.S. District Court and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Rahmeir Dixon, 31, of Savannah, was sentenced to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In April 2025, Dixon was found in possession of a Glock Model 43X, 9 mm pistol during a traffic stop by Savannah Police Department. 
• Malachi Tucker, 24, of Wrens, Georgia, was sentenced to 42 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Illegal Possession of a Machinegun. In February 2025, Tucker was found in possession of a Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber pistol which had been modified with a machinegun conversion device (MCD), during a traffic stop by Georgia State Patrol. A MCD allows a firearm to fire multiple rounds with one pull of the trigger, converting a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic machinegun.

There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.

"Taking violent weapons off our streets requires a true team effort," said U.S. Attorney Heap. “"We commend our law enforcement partners for their dedication and will keep working together to prosecute those who violate the law.” 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Savannah Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, Henry W. Syms Jr., and Joshua Kyle Davis. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants have been indicted by the September term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia for Re-entry after Removal or Deportation, a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:

• Marla Irene Barrientos-Bustillo, 33, a citizen of Honduras, illegally in the U.S., apprehended in Glynn County.
• Francisco Campos Chino, 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., apprehended in Glynn County.
• Gerialan Humberto Cruz-Dionicio, 32, a citizen of Honduras illegally in the U.S., apprehended in Richmond County.
• Alejandro Lara Del Los Santos, 41, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., apprehended in McDuffie County.
• Sergio Mendez-Tuxtla, 50, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., apprehended in Chatham County.
• Edwin Antonio Pacheco-Rivera, 35, a citizen of Honduras illegally in the U.S., apprehended in Glynn County.
• Gaspar Ramirez-Diego, 21, a citizen of Guatemala illegally in the U.S., apprehended in Chatham County.
• Omar Rubio-Figueroa, 45, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., apprehended in Camden County.

Reentry after Removal or Deportation charges carry statutory penalties of up to two years in prison, followed by referral to immigration authorities for deportation. If a defendant’s removal is subsequent to a felony or aggravated felony, statutory penalties can be significantly more severe.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

These cases are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and local law enforcement agencies and are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia C. Brame, Joshua Kyle Davis, Thomas M. Kent, Steven T. Poland, Kelsey L. Scanlon, and Darron J. Hubbard. 

A superseding indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Georgia charging five defendants for their roles in a scheme to exploit a nonimmigrant visa worker program to fraudulently obtain worker visas and smuggle aliens into the United States.  

According to court documents, Martha Aquino, also known as “Martha Patricia Resendez Sanchez,” or “Marta,” 61, Evangelina Aquino De Galvan, 49, and Julio Cervantes, 38, all of Alma, Georgia, as well as Marco Cervantes, also known as “Chiquilin,” 41, of Rowlett, Georgia, and Juan Felipe Romero-Lopez, 31, an illegal alien from Mexico, conspired to exploit the H-2A visa program by fraudulently obtaining temporary visas to bring workers into the United States. They lied about where the workers would work and reside and did not comply with the laws and rules governing the visa program, specifically by demanding and receiving improper payments from the workers before the workers could seek H-2A visas or begin working in the United States. The conspirators confiscated and withheld the workers’ identification documents, including passports, and at times threatened or used violence against the workers to deter them from leaving or failing to work. After the workers’ visas had expired, the conspirators enabled them to remain in the United States and even offered to transport them elsewhere in the United States in exchange for additional improper payments. 

“The H-2A is specifically designed to help farmers fill temporary or seasonal jobs when there is a shortage of domestic labor,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Instead of helping American farmers, these defendants allegedly concocted a scheme to enrich themselves by manipulating the program and smuggling aliens into the country for profit.”

“Those who exploit immigrant workers and abuse the H-2A visa program for their own financial gain will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret E. “Meg” Heap for the Southern District of Georgia. “We will continue to partner with our federal, state and local agencies to protect these workers, safeguard the integrity of the H-2A program and prosecute those who turn a lawful employment program into a vehicle for profit and abuse.”

“Exploiting a lawful worker visa program to profit from vulnerable individuals undermines our immigration system, harms legitimate employers, and puts workers at risk,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Georgia and Alabama. “HSI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to identify and dismantle criminal networks that use fraud, coercion, and violence to facilitate human smuggling and trafficking.”

“The H-2A program exists to meet critical U.S. labor needs through lawful employment, not to facilitate fraud or exploitation,” said Deputy Assistant Director William Ferrari of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Office of Investigations. “Working closely with Homeland Security Investigations, and alongside the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, DSS jointly investigated this case. Through our global presence and expertise in visa fraud investigations, DSS will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify abuses of U.S. visa programs and hold alleged offenders accountable.”

“The defendants allegedly used fraud and intimidation to exploit vulnerable workers and undermine the H-2A visa program, a system designed to meet legitimate agricultural labor needs,” said Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. “Their egregious conduct included demanding improper payments, confiscating workers’ identification documents, and using threats or violence to maintain control. The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General will aggressively investigate those who exploit labor programs and workers for profit. We will continue working with our law-enforcement partners to ensure these individuals are held fully accountable.”

Aquino, Julio Cervantes, and Marco Cervantes were arrested this week. Aquino De Galvan remains at large. Romero-Lopez has been detained after being originally charged in May 2026 for unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Aquino, Aquino De Galvan, and Julio Cervantes are charged with conspiring to commit visa fraud, visa fraud, and encouraging and inducing aliens to enter the United States illegally for commercial advantage and private gain. Marco Cervantes is charged with conspiring to commit visa fraud and visa fraud. Juan Felipe Romero-Lopez is charged with conspiring to commit visa fraud and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Aquino, Aquino De Galvan, Julio Cervantes, Marco Cervantes, and Romero-Lopez each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for visa fraud conspiracy; Aquino, Aquino De Galvan, Julio Cervantes, and Marco Cervantes each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for visa fraud; Aquino, Aquino De Galvan, and Julio Cervantes each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for encouraging and inducing illegal entry; and Romero-Lopez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

HSI Savannah, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case. HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and Custom and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force also assisted with the investigation.

Trial Attorney Sean F. Mulryne of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcela C. Mateo and Makeia R. Jonese for the Southern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP Analyst/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.

The indictment announced today was supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated prosecutors from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement/HSI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection/Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 458 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 408 U.S. convictions; and more than 357 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Georgia man has been sentenced to prison following a drug-related plea agreement.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. 

Kurtis Narada Jones, 46, of Riceboro, Georgia, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 248 grams of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine).

There is no parole in the federal system. 

According to court documents and testimony, investigators with Homeland Security Investigations, acting in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Investigation Service, conducted a search of Jones’s residence where large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA were discovered. Additionally, evidence of narcotics distribution was also present in the defendant’s bedroom, including pill presses, narcotics cutting agents, digital scales, plastic bags, and a vacuum sealer. 

“The agencies involved in this investigation should be commended for their roles in identifying this drug trafficking operation that endangered our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Let this message be clear: Those who traffic narcotics in our communities will be identified, prosecuted and brought to justice.” 

Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Investigation Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Liberty County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of this case.

“Drug trafficking organizations exploit every opportunity to push dangerous narcotics into our communities, and this sentence demonstrates the serious consequences awaiting those who do,” said Ellen Johnson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI is proud to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and dismantle criminal networks that threaten public safety.”

“The sentencing demonstrates the commitment by Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal enterprises trying to utilize the mail system for illegal activities,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “We are committed to hold individuals accountable for poisoning communities with dangerous drugs.”

This case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bondura and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Olsen. 

AUGUSTA, Georgia: A Florida woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Cheryl Galloway, 67, of Yulee, Florida, was sentenced to 71 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $454,624.20 and criminal forfeiture of $96,119 after being convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

As described in court documents and testimony, over a two-year period Galloway, along with her co-conspirators, electronically submitted fraudulent applications with agencies in at least 40 states.  The fraud scheme employed by Galloway and her co-conspirators involved filing for pandemic unemployment benefits around the country, stating they were impacted in those states, and lying about various material aspects of the applications. As a result, the conspirators received approximately $480,000 to which they were not entitled, and they attempted to obtain even more money through fraudulent and deceptive means. Some of the benefits were in the form of a debit card sent to Galloway through the U.S. Mail.

Galloway’s co-defendant, Ricki Johnson, 42, of Trenton, South Carolina, was previously sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $104,632 after pleading guilty to Mail Fraud. 

“This sentence demonstrates this offices commitment to safeguarding taxpayer-funded benefits against illegal access by those that would seek to enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This case, and many others like it, demonstrate that federal investigators and prosecutors will work together to identify these criminals and hold them accountable.” 

In March 2020, Congress authorized additional funding and expanded eligibility for state-administered unemployment insurance programs as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In an effort to maintain the integrity of those benefits, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (OIG-DOL) investigates individuals attempting to fraudulently access unemployment insurance funds.

"Cheryl Galloway and her co-conspirators fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits they were not entitled to, draining hard-earned tax dollars and betraying the trust of hardworking Americans. Stealing benefits is a crime and every fraudster will face the consequences they deserve,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. "This ruling stands as a powerful reminder that my office, in partnership with the Department of Justice, is committed to identifying and prosecuting every individual who defrauds our benefits programs. Accountability and justice will always prevail.”

Anyone with information about attempted unemployment insurance benefits fraud can contact OIG-DOL at www.oig.dol.gov/hotline.htm. 

The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, J. Bishop Ravenel and former Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III. 

STATESBORO, Georgia: A defendant and his co-conspirators in a Georgia prison drug trafficking operation have been sentenced in district court.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. 

Deivon Waller, a/k/a “Hitman,” a/k/a “VP”, 32, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia, was sentenced to 240 months in prison and a $2,000 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.

Waller was a co-conspirator in a network of prison inmates and outside conspirators who used drones and other methods to deliver large quantities of drugs, cell phones and other contraband to Smith State Prison in Glennville, Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena, and various other Georgia state prisons beginning as early as 2019 and continuing through July 2024.

Amongst more than 20 defendants, six were not in Department of Corrections custody at any time during the conspiracies, and each of them is alleged to have been in contact with incarcerated co-defendants in furtherance of the conspiracy.

Additional defendants associated with the operation have also been sentenced, they include:

• Kelvin Rogers, a/k/a “Gangsta,” 40, an inmate at the Smith State Prison, was sentenced to 96 months in prison and a $500 fine followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility.
• Tristahn Ash, a/k/a “Mohawk,” 29, an inmate in the Georgia Department of Corrections, was sentenced to 92 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
• Asa James Ward, a/k/a “Foolay,” 30, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, was sentenced to 56 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.

There is no parole in the federal system. 

More than a dozen additional co-conspirators await sentencing while others have upcoming trials in federal court for various charges including, Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. 

“This is but one step of many to bring these defendants to justice in a widespread conspiracy,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We commend the many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose collaborative work unraveled this criminal scheme.”

“Prisons should not be targets for sophisticated drug trafficking operations,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This investigation exposed an effort to use technology to circumvent security and deliver dangerous drugs and contraband behind prison walls. DEA’s commitment to pursuing those responsible does not stop at the prison gate.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Department of Corrections Criminal Investigations Division, the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, and local law enforcement agencies including the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Telfair County Sheriff’s Office, Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, the McRae-Helena Police Department, and the Eufaula, Ala., Police Department. 

“Identifying and managing those participating in criminal activity using contraband cell phones introduced into our facilities via drone or otherwise, is paramount in our commitment to public safety,” said GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.  “We appreciate the support of our federal partners in ensuring that justice will be served on these individuals for their role in jeopardizing the safe operations of our facilities, and most importantly, the safety of the public.”

This case is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy P. Dean and Criminal AUSA Chief Patricia G. Rhodes. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: An Ellabell man has been sentenced to federal prison following a firearms related plea agreement.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Torrence Veal, 37, of Ellabell, Georgia, was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. 

There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.

According to court documents and testimony, Veal was found in possession of a Glock, Model 48, 9 mm pistol in Chatham County in December 2024. Police officers with the Chatham County Police Department responded to a shooting at a Motel 6 in Savannah where officers learned that an altercation between Veal and an employee of the motel had occurred. 

After the initial altercation, Veal left and later returned, located the employee in the parking lot and fired the weapon multiple times in the employee’s direction. Veal then discarded the firearm before fleeing the scene. A Chatham County firearm detection K-9 officer was dispatched to the location and a search of the area resulted in the firearm being discovered in a nearby gutter. 

Investigators later determined the firearm was stolen. Veal’s lengthy criminal history includes prior convictions for aggravated assault.

“This significant sentence is a reminder that illegally possessing a firearm is a serious offense,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Illegally possessed firearms are a threat to neighborhoods far and wide; and those who endanger the public will face the consequences for their crimes.” 

“Within minutes of this crime occurring, Chatham County Police Department patrol officers, detectives, and forensic specialists were on the scene to interview witnesses and gather the crucial evidence needed to make an arrest,” said Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley. “We are proud to partner with federal authorities in bringing repeat offenders to justice and keeping the streets of our county safe for everyone.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Chatham County Police Department assisted in the investigation of this case and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese

STATESBORO, Georgia: An illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a stolen vehicle operation. His co-defendant’s have also been sentenced.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge L. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

Marcial Diaz-Sanchez, 25, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,859 after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. 

Isaiah Joseph Jaimes, 25, of South Houston, Texas, was sentenced to time served followed by three years of supervised release, 40 hours of community service and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,859 after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. 

There is no parole in the federal system. 

As described in court documents and testimony, in November 2024, Diaz-Sanchez and his co-defendant attempted to sell a vehicle, which they knew had been stolen from Texas. The defendants used Facebook Marketplace to negotiate and arrange the sale of the vehicle, which unbeknownst to them was to an undercover Jenkins County Deputy Sheriff. 

A subsequent search of the defendant’s phone revealed photos of high-end vehicles, counterfeit Texas titles and VINs, and large amounts of U.S. currency. 

An additional co-defendant, Rene Armando Reyes Velasquez, 24, of El Salvador, was previously sentenced in June after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

“Know this: those that steal another’s property and disregard federal law will face justice,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our extensive relationship with our law enforcement partners was instrumental in the prosecution of this case, directly impacting the safety of our communities and security of our property.” 

“Stealing vehicles and attempting to turn stolen property into profit comes with serious consequences,” said Brad Snider, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Statesboro office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to disrupt these schemes, recover stolen property, and hold those responsible accountable.”

The FBI and Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of this case and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcela C. Mateo and Kelsey L. Scanlon. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: An illegal alien on the run has been arrested in the Western District of Washington near Seattle.

Bogdan Alexandru Gherghevici, a/k/a “Victor Zema, 27, originally indicted in August 2025 in a 16-count indictment charging him with federal Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft charges, has been apprehended and is set to be transferred back to the Southern District of Georgia. Gherghevici was illegally in the United States and fled when the investigation began. Gherghevici is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Gherghevici’s co-defendant, Viorel Cristea, 33, a Romanian citizen illegally present in the United States, was convicted of one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $679,100 in March 2026.

The investigation began in May 2025 when a victim contacted the Pierce County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office regarding suspicious activity from a farm equipment dealer purported to be in Blackshear, in the Southern District of Georgia. Sheriff’s Office investigators and Homeland Security Investigations agents determined the company was fraudulent, and HSI agents identified Cristea and Gherghevici as conspirators. 

According to the indictment, it was alleged that at least as early as March 2025, and up to and including May 2025, both defendants participated in an extensive scheme falsely claiming to sell used farm equipment. This fraudulent scheme victimized more than a dozen prospective purchasers across the country, many of them elderly, and resulted in a total loss of more than $600,000.

The capture, and subsequent extradition of Gherghevici has been ordered by Western District of Washington Magistrate Judge Brian A. Tsuchida, ensures the Southern District of Georgia can proceed with the prosecution of the case.

“We commend our law enforcement partners no matter where they may be, and the team effort across the country will now send this defendant back to answer for the conduct alleged in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We look forward to bringing this case to a resolution and assisting the victims with closure.”

“Fleeing prosecution does not erase the harm caused to victims or stop HSI from pursuing justice,” said Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “This arrest reflects the strength of our partnerships with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and law enforcement partners in Washington state. HSI will continue working across jurisdictions to identify, locate, and bring alleged fraudsters before the courts.”

The case was investigated by HSI Savannah Field Office, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Bondura, Olivia Brame, and L. Alexander Hamner.

AUGUSTA, Georgia: Three men have been sentenced to prison following firearms related plea agreements.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Jordan Williams-Carswell, 26, of North Augusta, South Carolina, was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine after pleading guilty to Illegal Possession of a Machinegun. Court documents and testimony show that in January 2024, Williams-Carswell was illegally in possession of a Glock Model 20, 10 mm pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD). A MCD allows a firearm to fire multiple rounds with one pull of the trigger, converting a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic machinegun.
• Jordan James Perkins, 24, of Sardis, Georgia, was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In June 2025, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop and Perkins fled. While eluding law enforcement, Perkins discarded a Glock, Model 29, 10 mm pistol from the vehicle, which deputies later discovered during a search of the area. 
• Pierre Horton, 36, of Augusta, was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In November 2025, Horton was found in possession of a Smith & Wesson, SD40, .40 caliber pistol during a traffic stop by Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.  

There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.

“These sentences demonstrate the commitment this office and our law enforcement partners take to safeguard our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Illegally possessed and modified guns are a threat to neighborhoods far and wide; and those who endanger the public will face the consequences for their crimes.” 

“These cases send a clear message: illegally possessing or modifying firearms carries serious consequences,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Graves. “The strong partnership among ATF, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office was essential to holding these defendants accountable and protecting the citizens of the Augusta area.” 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr. and Joshua Kyle Davis. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia:  Multiple defendants illegally inside the United States were sentenced in federal court, two receiving prison time, and others to be transferred to immigration authorities for immediate deportation.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, and announced by Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Facundo Gregorio-Gonzalez, 50, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 14 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Gregorio-Gonzalez was identified as an illegal alien in October 2025 in Glynn County and upon completion of his prison term, will be transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for removal.
• Gamaliel Cordova-Ortiz, 30, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 14 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Cordova-Ortiz was identified as an illegal alien in June 2025 during a traffic stop in Glynn County and upon completion of his prison term, will be transferred to ICE custody for removal.
• Francisco Mendez-Villa, 32, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Mendez-Villa was identified as an illegal alien in June 2026 during a traffic stop in Camden County and will be transferred to ICE custody for removal.
• Lucas Artemio Montejo-Miguel, 48, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Montejo-Miguel was identified as an illegal alien in May 2026 during a traffic stop in Camden County and will be transferred to ICE custody for removal.

Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation is a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal. 

“Federal immigration laws exist to protect the integrity of our nation’s borders,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, those who repeatedly undermine those laws will be held accountable, removed and returned to their country of citizenship.”

These cases were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and local law enforcement agencies and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson, Timothy P. Dean, Darron J. Hubbard, and Matthew A. Breedon.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple individuals have been indicted by the August term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia for a host of charges.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:

• Robert Kye Sturdy, 67, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institute – Jesup, was indicted for First Degree Murder.
• Lenard Lorenzo Kearse, 38, of Rincon, Georgia, was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and Carrying a Firearm during and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; and,
• Perry Patalano, 63, of Augusta, was indicted for Healthcare Fraud, Theft of Government Money, Property or Records, and Aggravated Identity Theft.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases listed above have been investigated by the Bureau of Prisons-Criminal Investigations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and local law enforcement agencies. These cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson, Matthew Breedon, Henry W. Syms Jr., and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karl I. Knoche.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Four men have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to various firearms charges in separate cases.

The sentences were imposed in U.S. District Court and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Ryan Lee Borders, 38, of Baxley, Georgia, was sentenced to 130 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Borders was found in possession of a Beretta 9 mm pistol during a traffic stop by Georgia State Patrol in May 2024. 
• Antonio Lamar King, 41, of Dublin, Georgia, was sentenced to 56 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In May 2025, King was found in possession of a Smith and Wesson, Model SD40VE, .40 caliber pistol during an encounter with the Dublin Police Department. 
• Charles K. Carceller, 63, of Jackson, Georgia, was sentenced to 42 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. Carceller was in possession of multiple firearms and accessories, including a silencer, that were not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record in July 2022 in Chatham County. 
• Yusef Rashad Butler, 32, of Port Wentworth, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Butler was found in possession of a HS Produkt Hellcat, 9 mm pistol in August 2025 during a traffic stop GSP in Chatham County. 

There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.

“These defendants demonstrated a blatant disregard for federal law in possessing these firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue our work to hold accountable those who illegally possess guns and threaten the safety of our communities.”

“Each of these sentences reflects our dedication to reducing gun violence and enhancing public safety,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Graves. “The collaboration between the ATF and local law enforcement agencies is vital in our fight against illegal firearms possession, and we will not waver in our efforts to protect our communities from those who choose to ignore the law.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Georgia State Patrol, Dublin Police Department, Savannah Police Department and local law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, Joshua Kyle Davis, Henry W. Syms Jr., Tara M. Lyons, Makeia R. Jonese and Jennifer J. Kirkland. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: An Atlanta man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty in district court to child pornography charges.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Octavius D’Angelo Sheffield, 26, of Atlanta, was sentenced to 480 months in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. Sheffield will also be required to register as a sex offender and pay an assessment to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Fund in the amount of $200.  

There is no parole in the federal system. 

As described in court documents and testimony, Sheffield had sexual contact with a minor in November 2022 on more than one occasion. During these encounters, the defendant recorded the illegal sexual contact using a cell phone. 

The defendant also faced state charges of statutory rape and aggravated assault which were related to the federal charges and pled guilty in December 2024. 

“This sentence reflects the extraordinary seriousness of exploiting a minor through production and possession of explicit child sexual abuse material,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This office along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to protecting vulnerable children subject to victimization from offenders like this.”

If you are or have information about victims of child exploitation, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

This case was investigated by the FBI, Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri A. Stephan and Makeia R. Jonese.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Savannah man has been ordered to be confined in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Jason Johnny Wilson, 29, of Savannah, was sentenced to 200 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Possession of a Stolen Mail Key and Possession of Stolen Mail. 

Wilson was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $66,358.05

Wilsons’ codefendants, Terriona Grubbs, 27, of Savannah, Arthur Lee Bryant, 30, of Port Wentworth, and Tiana Lashaun Gill, 29, of Savannah, were previously sentenced after pleading guilty to various charges including Fraudulently Passing a Treasury Check, Bank Fraud, and Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

As described in court documents and testimony, from May 2023 to December 2024, the defendants took part in a mail theft scheme in which they would steal mail from U.S. postal receptacles using a stolen mail key. The stolen mail included personal identifying information and checks of multiple victims which were used by the defendants for fraudulent purposes. 

After creating fraudulent checks using the stolen mail, the defendants would deposit the checks into their personal accounts and use the funds for personal gain. In all, an analysis of multiple electronic devices revealed countless images of bulk cash, checks, and other financial instruments resulting in losses totaling more than $12.1 million. 

“Possessing stolen mail keys and engaging in the theft of personal and private correspondence is a crime against the public and this defendant will now answer for his misguided actions,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The outstanding investigators, prosecutors and our law enforcement partners of the agencies involved should all be commended for their relentless effort to bring these defendants to justice.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service relentlessly pursues criminals who exploit the U.S. Mail system for unlawful purposes.  The sentencing of these defendants who stole checks and other financial instruments and defrauded American citizens serves as a resounding message to anyone who wants to steal U.S. Mail,” stated Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division. “We will unwaveringly work with our partners in law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold criminals accountable for their actions,” 

The United States Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, Chatham County Police Department, Savannah Police Department, Rock Hill (South Carolina) Police Department, and Savannah-Chatham Counter Narcotics Team assisted in the investigation of the case which was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley R. Thompson. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants have been indicted by the August term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia for firearms offenses and immigration violations.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:

• David Griffin, 34, of Guyton, Georgia, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Alton Vincent, 25, of Augusta, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and for False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm.
• Kadeem Amir Wicker, 35, of Wrightsville, Georgia, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Jordin Alonso-Romero, 25, of Mexico, indicted for being an Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm.

In addition, 10 men are charged with Re-entry After Removal or Deportation, a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal:

• Wilfredo Portillo-Aguirre, 32, a citizen of El Salvador illegally in the U.S., arrested in Wayne County.
• Patricio Perez Barrera, 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Chatham County.
• Oscar Cardoza-Reyes, 41, a citizen of Honduras illegally in the U.S., arrested in Camden County.
• Alexander Cortez-Sanchez, 35, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Wayne County.
• Victor Cruz-Anaya, 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Liberty County.
• Melzar Oved Gomes-Maradiaga, 35, a citizen of Honduras illegally in the U.S., arrested in Chatham County.
• Jair Gomez-Torres, 30, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Effingham County.
• Jose Ricardo Rodriguez-Carillo, 44, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Camden County.
• Oscar Silvano Toga, 37, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Glynn County.
• Eustaquio Tolentino-Ramirez, 34, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Camden County.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases listed above have been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and local law enforcement agencies. These cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia C. Brame, L. Alexander Hamner, Matthew A. Breedon, Lyle J. Burnham II, Joshua Kyle Davis, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Olsen. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia:  Multiple defendants illegally inside the United States were sentenced in federal court and transferred to immigration authorities for immediate deportation.

The sentences were imposed in U.S. District Court and announced by Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

• Martin De La Torre Coronado, 35, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Coronado was identified as an illegal alien in May 2026 during a traffic stop by Savannah Police in Chatham County and transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Oscar Barrios-Garcia, 38, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Barrios-Garcia was identified as an illegal alien in February 2026 during an encounter with the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office in Chatham County and transferred to ICE custody.
• Juan Miguel Osorio Rojas, 40, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Rojas was identified as an illegal alien in June 2026 in Glynn County and transferred to ICE custody.

Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation is a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal. 

“These defendants had been previously removed from the United States yet chose to disregard federal law by unlawfully returning to the U.S.,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, we will hold criminal defendants accountable in an effort to protect our communities and ensure public safety.”

These cases were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Savannah Police Department and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, Ryan Bondura, Matthew A. Breedon, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Olsen.

AUGUSTA, Georgia: An Evans, Georgia man awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in federal court to child pornography charges.

Ryan Thomas Manley, 44, of Evans, pled guilty to six counts of Production with Intent to Distribute Child Pornography and one count of Possession of Child Pornography, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. 

As described in the plea agreement, from January to February 2025, Manley produced morphed images of real minor victims with intent to distribute sexually explicit conduct through electronic means. 

The guilty plea subjects Manley to a statutory penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment for the six counts of Production with Intent to Distribute Child Pornography and up to 20 years imprisonment for the guilty plea of Possession of Child Pornography. Additional penalties include substantial fines, registration as a sex offender, and a maximum life term of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. 

There is no parole in the federal system. 

“The children depicted in this CSAM case are not anonymous victims; they are real children whose suffering will continue long after this defendant is incarcerated,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Today’s guilty plea is a reminder that every child deserves justice, dignity, and protection. This office along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to investigate and prosecute those who possess or produce CSAM.”

If you are or have information about victims of child exploitation, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

“By receiving and intending to distribute these images, Manley participated in the continuing abuse and exploitation of children,” said Supervisory Senior Special Agent Matt Ploskunak of FBI Atlanta’s Augusta Resident Agency. “Children must be protected from sexual exploitation, and we remain committed to investigating the possession and distribution of child pornography.”

This case was investigated by the FBI, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons. 

WAYCROSS, Georgia: A Patterson woman has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to producing sexually explicit images of a child.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Brandy Marie Gill, 43, of Patterson, Georgia, was sentenced to 192 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Production of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit Conduct. Gill was ordered to pay $5,000 to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance fund and will also be required to register as a sex offender.   

There is no parole in the federal system. 

Court documents and testimony show that in August 2025, Gill persuaded a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing material to be distributed electronically. 

“Every image of child sexual abuse material represents the exploitation and victimization of a real child,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who possess, distribute, or produce CSAM.”

If you are or have information about victims of child exploitation, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri A. Stephan and Brad Thompson. 

SHREVEPORT – On July 28, 2026, a federal jury found Caleb Lee Kinsey, 37, of  Savannah, Georgia, guilty of Felon in Possession of a Firearm after a two-day trial, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller.  Kinsey faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

According to evidence presented at court, Kinsey had been under separate investigation in Georgia for his suspected involvement in a January 13, 2023, house explosion in Bryan County.  Investigators there uncovered evidence linking him and an associate to the incident. Six days after the house explosion, Kinsey approached a police officer in Pollock, Louisiana, and asked if there was a warrant for his arrest. Pollock Police confirmed there was an active arrest warrant from Georgia, and Kinsey responded by admitting there was firearm in his vehicle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents recovered the loaded weapon pursuant to a state search warrant. Law enforcement confirmed that Kinsey had a prior felony conviction in another state, which made it illegal for him to possess firearms.  He was then taken into custody. 

Kinsey is currently under Federal Indictment in the Southern District of Georgia for alleged crimes committed there. 

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.

ATF investigated this case and coordinated with law enforcement in Louisiana and Georgia. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Moody and William Gaskins with assistance from Legal Assistants Emily Favrot, Stephanie Stewart, and Amanda Morgan.

This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is 1:23-cr-00044.

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Public Affairs    
United States Attorney’s Office            
Western District of Louisiana            
USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA    
 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: The illegal sale of firearms and felons in possession of ammunition or firearms results in prison sentences for multiple defendants in separate cases.

The sentences imposed in U.S. District Court were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Jeremy Nicholas McLloyd, 34, of Douglas, Georgia, was sentenced to 152 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. McLloyd was found in possession of ammunition during a November 2024 traffic stop in Chatham County. 
• Charles Edward Collins, 47, of Augusta, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Collins was found to be in possession of a Ruger 10/22, .22 caliber rifle along with multiple rounds of ammunition in May 2025 during a traffic stop by Georgia State Patrol in Richmond County. 
• Raymond Gregory Myers, 57, and Iris Candace Young, 62, both of Hephzibah, Georgia, were each sentenced to 26 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to Engaging in the Business of Dealing Firearms Without a License. From June 2021 to March 2023, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found that Myers and Young were engaged in the business of the sale of firearms in Burke County without required federal licensing. 

There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.

“The illegal possession or sale of firearms poses a significant risk to the public and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Working together, our law enforcement partners and the ATF have effectively disrupted the illegal flow of firearms in our community.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Georgia State Patrol, and local law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, Joshua Kyle Davis, Henry W. Syms Jr., Tara M. Lyons, and Jennifer J. Kirkland.

SAVANNAH, Georgia:  Multiple defendants illegally inside the United States were sentenced in federal court and transferred to immigration authorities for immediate deportation.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker, and announced by Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

• Homer Esau Vazquez-Mendez, 45, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Vazquez-Mendez was identified as an illegal alien in May 2026 during a targeted enforcement operation in Chatham County and taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Manuel de Jesus Perez-Melgar, 32, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Perez-Melgar was identified as an illegal alien in May 2026 during a traffic stop in Port Wentworth and transferred to ICE custody.
• Didier Mora-Tino, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Mara-Tino was identified as an illegal alien in March 2026 in Ware County and transferred to ICE custody.

Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation is a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal. 

“Federal immigration laws exist to protect the integrity of our nation’s borders,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Those who repeatedly undermine those laws will be held accountable, removed and returned to their country of citizenship.”

These cases were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Port Wentworth Police Department, Ware County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Timothy P. Dean, L. Alexander Hamner, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karl I. Knoche.

BRUNSWICK, Georgia:  The July term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia has returned indictments for two men for drug distribution and firearms charges.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. 

Jonathan Shahaad Ruff, aka ‘Slaughter,’ 30, of Glynn County, Georgia, has been indicted for five counts of Distribution of 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine. His co-defendant, Darnell Lamar Pickens, 30, of Glynn County, has also been indicted for Distribution of 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. 

The indictment alleges that Ruff distributed methamphetamine in June and July of 2025 in Glynn County. The indictment further alleges that Ruff and Pickens distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in August 2025 in Glynn County. Pickens is also alleged to have possessed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in January 2026 in addition to being found in possession of a firearm. 

Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.

Both defendants face statutory penalties of 10 years to life in prison for Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine.  If convicted, Pickens is also subject to a minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years imprisonment for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. A conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon may result in up to 15 years in prison and each offense may also be accompanied by significant financial penalties and a minimum of 3 to 5 years of supervised release.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, Brunswick Police Department, and local law enforcement agencies. This case is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lyle J. Burnham II and Marcela C. Mateo. 

AUGUSTA, Georgia: An Augusta man has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison in federal court after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Martin Lindner, 52, of Augusta, was sentenced to 151 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography. Lindner was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $66,500.  

There is no parole in the federal system. 

Court documents and testimony show that in February 2025, Lindner received child pornography, including videos and images, depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Using his home computer, Lindner would receive the material via a peer-to-peer file sharing software. 

“This sentence reflects the seriousness of crimes that exploit and victimize children,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Protecting children from predators is one of our highest priorities and we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who engage in these reprehensible offenses.”

“The receipt of child pornography not only harms the young victims portrayed in those images, but it also fuels a heinous market,” said Matthew Ploskunak, Supervisory Senior Special Agent for the Augusta office of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute individuals who commit heinous crimes against minors.”

This case was investigated by the FBI, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Three Savannah men have been sentenced to prison following firearm- and drug-related plea agreements.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Lafayette Wright Jr., 38, of Savannah, was sentenced to 190 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin. Court documents and testimony show that in June 2024, Wright attempted to mail a package through the U.S. Postal Service which contained 1,988 grams of heroin. U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted the package in transit from Phoenix to Port Wentworth, Georgia. During the investigation, fingerprints were discovered within the package and still-photo images identified Wright as the individual who mailed the package.
• Aquille Omar Johnson, 32, of Savannah, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and a $1,200 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. In March 2024, Savannah Police attempted to execute a search warrant of Johnson’s residence along with an arrest warrant for Johnson when he fled and attempted to discard a Glock .40 caliber pistol. The search warrant resulted in the discovery of another firearm, a Bonito 12-gauge shotgun along with multiple rounds of ammunition, as well as 448 grams of cocaine in the defendant’s room at his residence. 
• James Adkins, 28, of Savannah, was sentenced to 21 months in prison and a $1,200 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In July 2025, Savannah Police responded to a shoplifting call at a Savannah-area Kroger supermarket and approached the defendant as the person matching the description provided by witnesses. Adkins attempted to flee and during the foot pursuit discarded a Ruger 9 mm pistol before surrendering to law enforcement officers. 

There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.

“These sentences demonstrate the commitment this office and our law enforcement partners take to safeguard our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Drugs and guns are a threat to neighborhoods far and wide; and those who endanger the public will face significant consequences for their crimes.” 

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Savannah Police Department assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson, John P. Harper III, Ryan E. Bondura, L. Alexander Hamner, and Makeia R. Jonese. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants have been indicted by the July term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia for firearms offenses and immigration violations.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:

• Robert Lee Jones, 22, of Richmond County, indicted for Illegal Possession of a Machinegun and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Steven Allan Darby, 39, of Richmond County, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Tavis Tallent, 26, of Richmond County, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Raheem Kirkland, 30, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Luis Alvarado-Pavedes, 18, of Honduras, indicted for Illegal Possession of a Machinegun and Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien.

Statutory penalties for illegal possession of a machinegun can result in up to 10 years in prison. Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or illegal alien may result in up to 15 years in prison and each may also be accompanied by significant financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release.

In addition, six men are charged with Re-entry After Removal or Deportation, a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal:

• Juan Capulin-Martinez, 52, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Camden County.
• Juan DeSantiago-Castillo, 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Atkinson County.
• Juan Carlos Martinez-Perez, 41, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Bulloch County.
• Francisco Javier Mendez-Villa, 32, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Camden County.
• Hector Ezquivel Mireles, 35, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Camden County.
• Juan Miguel Osorio Rojas, 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Glynn County.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases listed above have been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement agencies. These cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karl I. Knoche, Kelsey L. Scanlon, Makeia R. Jonese, Lauren C. Olsen, Henry W. Syms Jr., and Matthew A. Breedon. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Savannah man has been sentenced to prison in federal court after being convicted for firearm- and drug-related crimes.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Maurice Williams, aka “Bando,” 23, of Savannah, was sentenced to 421 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after being convicted of two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Illegal Possession of a Machinegun and Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone and Marijuana.  Williams also pled guilty to two additional counts of Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun and two counts of Distribution of Fentanyl. 

There is no parole in the federal system. 

Court documents and testimony show that in September 2023, an extensive investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began which included undercover purchases of firearms and drugs.

These controlled purchases included weapons of various models, including Glock handguns which were equipped with machinegun conversion devices, or MCD’s. An MCD allows a firearm to fire multiple rounds with one pull of the trigger, transforming a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic machinegun.

Throughout the investigation, undercover agents completed multiple purchases of firearms and drugs, including hundreds of pills containing fentanyl. 

During a September 2024 traffic stop by Savannah Police, Williams was found in possession of a Glock Model 21, .45 caliber pistol with an attached MCD, oxycodone, and more than 300 grams of marijuana. 

“The extensive illegal activity this defendant was involved in, peddling illicit drugs and selling dangerous weapons will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Along with our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring that felons that terrorize our community face long, federal prison sentences without opportunities for parole.” 

“I want to thank our officers and federal partners for their hard work on this case,” said Savannah Police Chief Lenny B. Gunther.  “Savannah is a safer place for having removed drugs, illegal guns, and a criminal from our community.”

“Today's sentencing highlights the importance of our ongoing partnerships in law enforcement,” said ATF Resident Agent in Charge Chase Anastasio. “By working together, we can effectively target and disrupt the flow of illegal firearms and drugs in our neighborhoods." 

This case was investigated by the ATF, Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Savannah Police Department’s Strategic Investigations Unit and Community Response Team and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner and Makeia R. Jonese. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Three defendants have been sentenced to prison in federal court for firearms- and drug-related charges in separate cases.

The sentences were imposed in U.S. District Court and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Eric Lowe, 45, of Dublin, Georgia, was sentenced to 96 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. In February 2023, Lowe was found in possession of a Taurus, Model 85, .38 caliber pistol during a traffic stop by Dublin Police in Laurens County.
• Tykez Elijahwun Davis, 30, of Dublin, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In August 2024, Davis was found to be in possession of a Rossi Model 461 .357 caliber pistol by Dublin Police in Laurens County. 
• Corrie Devon Eady, 32, of Savannah, was sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In June 2025 in Chatham County, Eady was found in possession of a stolen Ruger .380 caliber pistol during a traffic stop by Savannah Police. 

There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.

“Illegally possessed firearms are a fast track to extended prison terms for many defendants,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our law enforcement partners will investigate these cases, and they can be assured that our office will prosecute the case to the fullest extent.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Savannah Police Department, and the Dublin Police Department assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Kyle Davis, L. Alexander Hamner, Ryan Bondura, and Patricia G. Rhodes. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: The former executive director of the Hinesville Housing Authority (HHA) and another individual have been indicted on multiple counts of Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. 

Melanie S. Thompson, 55, of Savannah, was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 19 counts of Wire Fraud, and two counts of False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Claims. Toriono L. Byrd, 52, of Savannah, is charged in the indictment with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. 

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

As described in the indictment, beginning as early as September 2019 and continuing through October 2023, while employed with the HHA, Thompson is alleged to have created or authorized false invoices, directed to Byrd’s private business, which authorized payments to Byrd for work that was never completed, or in amounts that far exceeded the actual value of the work. Upon receiving these payments, Byrd is alleged to have made return payments, or kickbacks, to Thompson for her personal use and benefit. 

The indictment further alleges that through her role as executive director, Thompson directed multiple fraudulent payments to herself through the payroll system, directed payments of fraudulent bonuses to which she was not entitled, and that Thompson made false Covid-era loan applications to the federal government.

In all, the scheme is alleged to have resulted in a loss of more than $2.5 million for the HHA.

The charges carry statutory penalties upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams, 55, of Waynesboro, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia on five counts of Extortion Under the Color of Official Right and one count of Transfer of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon.

The indictment, returned by the July term of the grand jury, alleges the offenses occurred from August 2021 to April 2022, with the indictment asserting that Williams requested and accepted monetary payments from five individuals in exchange for dismissing pending citations for driving under the influence. Additionally, the indictment charges that in January 2023, Williams provided a firearm to an individual previously convicted of a felony. 

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The extortion charges each carry a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. The firearms charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 15 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release. 

There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara M. Lyons and Timothy P. Dean.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Savannah man has been sentenced to prison in federal court following a plea agreement for firearm- and drug-related crimes.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa G. Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Jamel Adams, 42, of Savannah, was sentenced to 116 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. Court documents and testimony show that in December 2024, Savannah Police initiated a traffic stop of Adams when he attempted to flee on foot. After being apprehended, a search of Adams’s vehicle led to the discovery of 20 grams of methamphetamine and 31 grams of fentanyl. 

Adams also pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. During the same encounter, Savannah Police found a Springfield XD5, .45 caliber pistol in Adams’s vehicle.

There is no parole in the federal system. 

“This sentence reflects the serious consequences for those who choose to threaten the safety and well-being of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our office, together with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to aggressively prosecuting offenders who endanger the public and holding them accountable under federal law.” 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Savannah Police Department and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner and Makeia R. Jonese. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A federal judge has ordered a third defendant to be confined in federal prison after conviction for mail theft.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Torrance Urban Miller, 49, of Miami, was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to Theft of Mail. 

Millers’ codefendants, Joshua Mister Holmes, 21, of Miami, and Coleshia Carter, 22, of East Point, Georgia, were previously sentenced after pleading guilty to Theft of Mail, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

As described in court documents and testimony, from January 2023 to January 2024, the defendants took part in a mail theft scheme in which they would steal mail from Augusta area U.S. postal receptacles looking for business checks. They would take the business checks they had stolen and create counterfeit checks which were then deposited into accomplices’ accounts and withdraw the money. 

“Closing this case out with a substantial prison sentence is a victory for the business victims in and around Augusta,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The tireless efforts of all of the agencies involved should be commended.”

The FBI, United States Postal Inspection Service and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigated the cases, which were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia First Assistant U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia:  An illegal alien in possession of a firearm has been sentenced to prison in federal district court.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker, and announced by Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Alan Castro-Hernandez, 27, of Garden City, was sentenced to 160 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to two counts of being an Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

In March 2025, Chatham County Police responded to a shooting at the Emperors Gentlemen’s Club, finding a wounded victim along with 9 mm casings at the scene. During the investigation, using surveillance video, investigators identified the suspects’ vehicle and physical description. 

Investigators searched Castro-Hernandez’s residence and found the Glock Model 48, 9 mm pistol used in the shooting. Several additional firearms were recovered during the search.

“This defendant knew his actions were illegal, and the community is safer after the conclusion of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The teamwork and investigative skills of our law enforcement partners, including Chatham County Police Detectives Randall Noble and Jon Puhala, ensured this illegal alien would face justice.”

Castro-Hernandez admitted to officers that he possessed the firearm and shot someone the night he was at the establishment. Castro-Hernandez also admitted to knowingly being illegally in the United States. 

"When individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms choose to arm themselves and commit acts of violence, they put innocent lives at risk,” said ATF Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph Waller. “ATF will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate firearms offenses, remove illegal firearms from our communities, and ensure violent offenders are brought to justice.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Chatham County Police Department and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, Michael Spitulnik and J. Bishop Ravenel.

SAVANNAH, Georgia:  A Savannah man has been sentenced to more than 30 years in federal prison for being an armed career criminal in possession of a firearm.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall, and announced by Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Duane B. Smith, aka “Flex,” aka “Dwayne Kelvin Smith,” 53, of Savannah, was sentenced to 405 months in prison, fined $1,200 and ordered to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term after being convicted at trial of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Smith was adjudicated as an Armed Career Criminal, which requires imposition of a mandatory minimum 15-year term of imprisonment for recidivists convicted of illegally possessing a firearm who have three prior state or federal convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses.

As described in court documents and testimony, on June 13, 2023, officers with the Savannah Police Department responded to the Goodwill Store at 220 Eisenhower Drive in response to a missing person report. Officers found the missing individual with Smith, and learned that Smith had driven the missing person to the Goodwill Store in his vehicle. 

Investigators searched Smith’s vehicle and located a Cobra .380 caliber pistol under the back seat of the vehicle. Smith later was arrested by the Savannah Police Department SWAT team. Smith was prohibited from possessing firearms because of three previous state felony convictions and one federal felony conviction.

“Our partnership with local and federal law enforcement agencies is vital in our efforts to remove firearms from the hands of those who can’t legally possess them – especially those convicted of prior felonies,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This conviction is a positive step in reducing violence in our communities.” 

This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer.

“This should send a clear message that there are serious consequences for illegally possessing a firearm in Savannah,” said Savannah Police Chief Lenny B. Gunther. “I’m proud of my officers for getting both him and the weapons off our streets.”

This case was investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese and Patricia G. Rhodes.

SAVANNAH, Georgia:  Multiple defendants illegally inside the United States were sentenced in federal district court for the Southern District of Georgia.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker, and announced by Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Olicer Elio Morales-Roblero, 34, of Guatemala, was sentenced to seven months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Morales-Roblero was identified as an illegal alien while in Effingham County, Georgia, in May 2026. Upon completion of his prison term, Morales-Roblero will be transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings.
• Ernesto Campistrano-Hernandez, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation and transferred to ICE custody. Campistrano-Hernandez was identified as an illegal alien during a February 2026 traffic stop by Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.
• Cruz Marroquin-Najera, 29, of Guatemala, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation and transferred to ICE custody. Marroquin-Najera was identified as an illegal alien in March 2026 during a traffic stop in Chatham County.

Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation is a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal. 

“Illegal aliens that have no respect for the rule of law will be continue to be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We are committed to working alongside our local law enforcement partners to identify, capture, and remove illegal aliens who repeatedly disregard our nation’s laws.”

These cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner, Jennifer J. Kirkland, Matthew A. Breedon, and Makeia R. Jonese.

SAVANNAH, Georgia:  Multiple defendants illegally inside the United States were sentenced in federal court in the Southern District of Georgia and transferred to immigration authorities for immediate deportation.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker, and announced by Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

• Aguelio Lemos Hernandez, 35, of Honduras, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Hernandez was identified as an illegal alien in January 2026 during a traffic stop in Chatham County and transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Henry Marin-Hernandez, 41, of Guatemala, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Marin-Hernandez was identified as an illegal alien in February 2026 during a traffic stop in Chatham County and transferred to ICE custody.
• Luis Angel Velasquez-Montes, 27, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Hernandez was identified as an illegal alien in April 2026 during a traffic stop in Chatham County and transferred to ICE custody.
• Miguel Aparicio-Ortiz, 40, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Aparicio-Ortiz was identified as an illegal alien in January 2026 during a traffic stop in Chatham County and transferred to ICE custody.
• Moises Valenzuela-Mendez, 42, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Valenzuela-Mendez was identified as an illegal alien in March 2026 during a traffic stop in Atkinson County and transferred to ICE custody.

Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation is a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal. 

“These defendants have previously been removed from the U.S., only to return and violate the law again and again,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We will continue to support our local law enforcement agencies’ efforts to identify and capture these illegal aliens; And they can rest assured that our office will prosecute and remove them.”

These cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys John P. Harper III, Lauren C. Olsen, Makeia R. Jonese, and Matthew A. Breedon.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Five men have been sentenced to federal prison in U.S. District Court following guilty pleas for firearms-related crimes.

The sentencings before U.S. District Court were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Maurice Edward Jones, 38, of Rincon, Georgia, was sentenced to 130 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jones was found with a 9 mm pistol when he was apprehended by Effingham County Sheriff’s Deputies immediately after committing a smash and grab burglary at a convenience store in May 2025.
• Zyron Loadholt, 19, of Savannah, was sentenced to 58 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police responded to a report of a man with a gun near the Moses Jackson Center in July 2025. After attempting to flee, Loadholt was apprehended and found to be in possession of a Glock Model 19, 9 mm pistol.
• Deondre Jamar Williams, 30, of Riverdale, Georgia, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and a $1,200 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Williams was found in possession of a Taurus G2C 9 mm pistol and ammunition in Augusta in July 2025. The firearm had also been reported as stolen.
• Xavier Whitfield, 41, of Savannah, was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Whitfield was found to be in possession of Hi-Point .380 caliber pistol after a search warrant was served on his residence in September 2024 by Savannah Police. 
• Alvin Tyrone Sturgis Jr., 39, of Augusta, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Sturgis was found to be in possession of a Taurus model 85 Ultralite, .38 caliber pistol in January 2025 in Richmond County.

There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.

“Convicted felons who continue to disregard the law and threaten the safety of our communities will be held fully responsible,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These sentences are just one step towards securing safety for our children and families.” 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Savannah Police Department, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and Chatham County Police Department investigated the cases, which were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara M. Lyons, Kelsey L. Scanlon, Patricia G. Rhodes, Makeia R. Jonese, Bradley R. Thompson, Timothy P. Dean, and L. Alexander Hamner.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Three additional defendants in a southern Georgia drug trafficking operation have been sentenced to prison in federal court.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa G. Wood and were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Dequatte Tucker, 34, an inmate at Wheeler Correctional Facility, was sentenced to 188 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances. 
• Roger Jenkins, 28, of Alma, Georgia, was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances.
• Corey Hill, 36, of Ambrose, Georgia, was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. 

There is no parole in the federal system. 

These three defendants were co-conspirators in a large-scale drug trafficking operation spanning several southern Georgia communities. As described in court documents and testimony, the defendants participated in a conspiracy to import and distribute large amounts of illegal drugs in the Douglas, Georgia community and surrounding counties. Much of the conspiracy was directed from inside Georgia state prisons using contraband cell phones. The investigation resulted in the seizure of 21 illegally possessed firearms and more than $17,000.

“The sentences imposed hold these conspirators accountable for their roles in a drug trafficking operation that endangered our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Let this message be clear: Those who traffic narcotics in our communities will be identified, prosecuted and brought to justice.” 

There were 33 additional defendants who were convicted after pleading guilty to various drug- and gun-related charges, with 17 of them sentenced to terms of up to 126 months in prison. Two defendants were convicted at trial, one defendant passed away before adjudication, and another was acquitted at trial.

“This drug trafficking organization has been responsible for wreaking havoc in South Georgia, and its takedown is a positive step forward in the never-ending quest to keep our communities safe,” said Brian Ozden, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta’s Resident Agencies. “We will not waver in our mission to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle trafficking organizations anywhere in Georgia.”

The FBI, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeast Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Douglas Police Department, the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office, the Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office, the Waycross Police Department, the Marion County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville (Florida) County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Kyle Davis and Bradley R. Thompson. 

WAYCROSS, Georgia: Six defendants in a southern Georgia drug trafficking operation have been sentenced to prison in federal court.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Chen Hui Shu, 36, of Hunan, China, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. 
• Jin Peng Ma, 35, of Taishan City, Guangdong, China, was sentenced to 29 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
• Lecai Huang, 68, of Taishan City, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
• Wei Sheng Deng, 41, of Guangzhou, China, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
• Zhu Sheng Bing, 65, of Taishan City, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
• Zhi Yong Ma, 54, of Taishan City, was sentenced to 29 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

There is no parole in the federal system. Upon completion of their prison terms, each defendant will be delivered to a duly authorized Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer for deportation proceedings.

“This case highlights how the actions of steadfast law enforcement officers led to the discovery and dismantling of a massive drug distribution operation in southern Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our exceptional partners in law enforcement have contributed greatly to their community by eliminating this large-scale, illegal marijuana growing factory.” 

As described in court documents and testimony, after multiple reports of the smell of marijuana originating from a specific property in Pierce County, an investigation was launched in July 2023, which thereafter expanded to another property Brantley County. 

During the course of the investigation, including extensive surveillance, a search of the properties revealed two large-scale indoor marijuana grows, complete with irrigation, grow lights, and multi-stage production facilities. In total, between the properties in Pierce and Brantley Counties, law enforcement seized approximately 15,000 marijuana plants. The proceeds of this operation were traced internationally. The properties located in Pierce and Brantley Counties were subsequently forfeited to the United States in March 2026.

“The successful takedown of this network sends a clear message that our law enforcement partners remain united and unwavering in the effort to identify, investigate, and dismantle organizations that threaten the safety of our neighborhoods,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This operation highlights the power of collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels.”

The Drug Enforcement Agency, Brantley County Sheriff’s Office, and Pierce County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of these cases, which were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes, Tara M. Lyons, J. Bishop Ravenel, and Darron J. Hubbard. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Federal prison sentences have been ordered in federal court for illegal possession of a firearm and one for possessing a machinegun.

Sentences were handed down in U.S. District Court and were announced by Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Margaret E. “Meg” Heap. They include:

• Michael Rice, 37, of Dublin, was sentenced to 84 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In October 2024, Rice was found to be in possession of a .38 caliber pistol in Laurens County.
• Chauncey Lavon Feby, 20, of Augusta, was sentenced to 71 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Illegal Possession of a Machinegun. In November 2024 in Richmond County, Feby was found with a Glock Model 45, 9 mm pistol which had been modified with an auto sear, converting the pistol into a fully automatic machinegun. 
• Josue Gutierrez, 31, of Lawrenceville, was sentenced to 64 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In September 2024, Gutierrez was found to be in possession of multiple firearms during a traffic stop in Atkinson County by Georgia State Patrol.

There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.

“We will continue to support our law enforcement partners in their efforts to remove these dangerous weapons from the streets and to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to hold accountable those that unlawfully possess these lethal weapons.” 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Dublin Police Department, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol assisted in the investigation of these cases, which were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Kyle Davis, Jennifer Kirkland, L. Alexander Hamner and Kelsey Scanlon.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Saluda, South Carolina woman has been sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to money laundering.

The sentence was imposed by Federal District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. 

Laura Frantz, 62, of Saluda, pled guilty to Money Laundering, and has been sentenced to 27 months in prison, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $138,673, and three years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term.  

There is no parole in the federal system.

“One cannot simply wash away the origins of illegally obtained money through financial schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This guilty plea demonstrates that those who attempt to conceal criminal proceeds will face the consequences.”

As detailed in court documents and testimony, between 2020 and 2023 in Richmond County, Georgia, Frantz knowingly engaged in monetary transactions involving proceeds from a business email compromise scheme that caused victim companies to transfer funds into bank accounts controlled by the defendant. Frantz was not entitled to those funds. The FBI warned Frantz on multiple occasions that her conduct was potentially criminal. Despite those warnings, she continued to withdraw and use portions of the fraudulently obtained funds.

“The FBI and its partners will relentlessly pursue individuals looking to illegally move funds for illicit purposes,” said Matt Ploskunak, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in FBI Atlanta’s Augusta Office. “Anyone engaged in this type of criminal activity should realize they are not outside of the reach of law enforcement.” 

This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and Jennifer S. Thompson. 

WAYCROSS, Georgia: Three defendants have been sentenced on federal conspiracy charges after a transnational, multi-year investigation into a human smuggling and labor trafficking operation that illegally transported Mexican and Central American workers into brutal conditions on South Georgia farms. 

Sentences were handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa G. Wood and announced by Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap. They include:

• Margarita Rojas Cardenas, a/k/a “Maggie Cardenas,” 48, of Reidsville, Georgia, was sentenced to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $20,838.94 after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
• Nery Rene Carrillo-Najarro, 61, of Douglas, Georgia, was sentenced to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The court scheduled a restitution hearing on August 4, 2026, to assess victims’ losses and to determine the amount of restitution owed by the defendant.
• Brett Donavan Bussey, 44, of Douglas, was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,224.73 after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“This case is an outstanding example of the extensive collaboration with our partner government agencies which led to these convictions,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The work carried out by these professionals has had a direct impact in protecting vulnerable people and preserving the American dream for those who pursue it.”

As described in court documents and proceedings, investigators from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI began investigating the Patricio transnational criminal organization in November 2018. Court documents describe that in or before 2015, the conspirators and their associates “engaged in mail fraud, international forced labor trafficking, and money laundering, among other crimes,” fraudulently using the H-2A work visa program to transport foreign nationals from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras into the United States under the pretext of serving as agricultural workers. 

The activities took place within the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Georgia; the Middle District of Florida; the Southern District of Texas; and Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and elsewhere. The conspirators required the workers to pay unlawful fees for transportation, food, and housing while illegally withholding their travel and identification documents and subjected the workers “to perform physically demanding work for little or no pay, housing them in crowded, unsanitary, and degrading living conditions, and by threatening them with deportation and violence.”     

The conspirators are alleged to have reaped more than $200 million from the illegal scheme, laundering the funds through cash purchases of land, homes, vehicles, and businesses; through cash purchases of cashier’s checks; and by funneling millions of dollars through a casino.

The case was originally investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, now Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). HSTF is an interagency law enforcement network established to investigate and dismantle transnational criminal organizations, human smuggling networks, and foreign gangs in the United States. Operation Blooming Onion was also designated as a Priority Transnational Organized Crime Case. 

“Federal labor programs are not a playground for criminals. Let these sentencings send a clear message: if you exploit workers, commit fraud, launder money, or abuse programs designed to help people, my office will find you and hold you accountable,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. "This scheme preyed on vulnerable individuals and corrupted a lawful worker program for illegal profit. Alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue rooting out fraud, protecting American workers, and ensuring bad actors face the full weight of justice.”

The sentencings of Cardenas, Bussey, and Carrillo-Najarro bring the case against the original 24 defendants to a close. Many of the defendants were sentenced to incarceration and ordered to pay restitution to the victims in the case, with the restitution total reaching more than $1.3 million. 

Agencies investigating this case include Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Fraud Detection and National Security; the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and Wage and Hour Division; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the FBI; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the U.S. Marshals Service, with assistance from the Georgia National Guard; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; the Georgia State Patrol; the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office; the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office; the Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office; the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office; and the Tift County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan E. Bondura and L. Alexander Hamner.

If you believe you have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking. All reports are confidential, and you may remain anonymous. Interpreters are available.  The information you provide will be reviewed by the National Hotline and forwarded to specialized law enforcement and/or service providers where appropriate.  

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Four men have been indicted by the June term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:

• Averelle Baker, 27, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Miguel Antonio Davis, 32, of Augusta, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Jameze D. Moore, 34, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
• Timetrius Neal, 28, of Thomson, Georgia, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases listed above have been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, and local law enforcement agencies. These cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, Matthew Breedon, and Henry W. Syms Jr. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: The defendant charged in the December 2024 shooting death of a Fort Gordon soldier faces up to life in federal prison after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court. 

Natravien R. Landry, 27, of Abbeville, Louisiana, a former soldier in the U.S. Army National Guard, pled guilty to Murder in the Second Degree and Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence in the death of U.S. Army Sgt. Andre S. Stewart Jr., said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. 

The plea agreement subjects Landry to a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to life, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“This guilty plea acknowledges the defendant’s responsibility, representing a step towards justice,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We commend the dedication of the U.S. Army CID and prosecutors whose efforts ensured this case would conclude in a conviction.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Landry was an Army National Guard soldier assigned to the 1148th Transportation Company at Fort Gordon. He was working with his Guard unit at Fort Gordon early in the morning of Dec. 14, 2024, when he visited an apartment on the installation of a woman with whom Landry shares a child. After seeing a vehicle parked outside the apartment and suspecting another man was at the residence, Landry walked inside the apartment to a bedroom upstairs and found Stewart and two children. Landry, who was aware Stewart was unarmed, shot him once in chest. Stewart later was pronounced dead in the apartment. 

After the shooting, Landry drove away from Fort Gordon and was arrested about three hours later south of Atlanta on Interstate 85 during a traffic stop by the Meriwether County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office. Deputies recovered a 9 mm Glock pistol that testing proved was used in the shooting.

U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule a sentencing hearing upon completion of a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services. 

"This plea is a testament to the outstanding investigative efforts of our Army CID agents, as well as the dedication of the DOJ prosecution team, and is indicative of our commitment to ensure justice for victims of heinous crimes such as this,” said Ryan O’Connor, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Southeast Field Office. "Army CID will continue to work closely with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to pursue those who would harm members of our communities, and to hold them fully accountable for their actions."

This case was investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Criminal Division Chief Patricia G. Rhodes and Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry W. Syms Jr.   

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A federal judge has ordered two defendants to be confined in federal prison after conviction for mail theft, bank fraud and identity theft.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Joshua M. Holmes, 21, of Miami, was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to Theft of Mail, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. 

Holmes’ codefendant, Coleshia Carter, 22, of East Point, Georgia, was also sentenced during court proceedings to 24 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

“The actions of these defendants not only impacted the business victims in and around Augusta, but also undermined the integrity of our financial systems,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Let this case serve as a reminder that crime does not pay, and that we will do whatever we can to serve justice and safeguard our communities.”

As described in court documents, from January 2023 to January 2024, the defendants took part in a mail theft scheme in which they would steal mail from Augusta area U.S. postal receptacles and washed checks found in the mail to create counterfeit checks which were then deposited into unauthorized accounts or used for large purchases.  

“This sentencing is a statement that mail theft will not be tolerated, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to partner with fellow law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to collectively pursue criminals who victimize Postal customers.” 

The FBI, United States Postal Inspection Service and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigated the cases, which were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia First Assistant U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. 

“These sentences should make clear that those who illegally use Americans’ personal information to facilitate fraud will face serious consequences,” said Matthew Ploskunak, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in FBI Atlanta’s Augusta office. “The FBI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to deliver justice for the victims of complex fraud schemes.”

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Five men have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to being felons in possession of a firearm in separate cases.

The sentences imposed by U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Stephen Lodato, 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 165 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Lodato was found in possession of multiple firearms, firearms parts, and ammunition after Savannah Police executed a search of his residence after a domestic dispute in March 2025.
• Jaime Alexander German, 31, of Savannah, was sentenced to 145 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession with the Intent to Distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. After a lengthy investigation including physical surveillance and undercover operations, a search warrant executed by the Savannah Police Department uncovered multiple firearms and 491 grams of fentanyl at German’s residence in May 2024. 
• Todd Shane Pendergraph Jr., 37, of Savannah was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Pendergraph was found to be in possession of a firearm after attempting to flee from a May 2024 traffic stop in Savannah by Georgia State Patrol. 
• Devontay Jones, 29, of Savannah, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jones was found in possession of a firearm in August 2025 during an encounter with Savannah Police who had responded to a road rage incident. 
• Jacorey D. Lockette, 32, of Savannah, was sentenced to 22 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Lockette was found to be in possession of a firearm during a March 2024 compliance check when Savannah Police found a pistol in the defendant’s bedroom.

There is no parole in the federal system. 

“We praise the vigilance of our law enforcement partners’ continued commitment to removing these weapons of violence from the streets of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Through effective interagency cooperation with our law enforcement partners, we are ensuring those that violate the law are brought to justice.”

The cases listed above have been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, Georgia State Patrol, and the Savannah Police Department. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, Jennifer J. Kirkland, Tara M. Lyons, L. Alexander Hamner, Timothy P. Dean and Darron J. Hubbard.