USAO - Georgia, Middle News Update

Offices of the United States Attorneys   You are subscribed to USAO - Georgia, Middle news updates. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Macon Man Sentenced to the Statutory Maximum Prison Sentence for Distributing Child Sexual Assault Material 07/19/2022 08:00 AM EDT MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison after he assumed the social media identity of a 12-year-old girl using threats and then forced the victim to produce child sexual abuse material, which he sold online. Anthony Sparks Brown, 27, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. "Tripp" Self, III after he pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography. Brown will also register as a sex offender for life upon release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Georgia Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison for Filing False Returns 07/14/2022 08:00 AM EDT ATHENS, Ga. – A Georgia man was sentenced today to 230 months in prison for charges related to his filing of dozens of fraudulent tax returns on behalf of multiple sham trusts. Marquet Mattox, of Lilburn, was convicted by a federal jury on Aug. 18, 2021, of wire fraud, false claims and theft of government funds. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from 2016 to 2018 Mattox filed more than 30 fraudulent federal income tax returns with the IRS in the names of approximately 12 different trusts. On those returns, Mattox falsely reported that the trusts had withheld large amounts of taxes on purported interest income, thereby entitling the trusts to refunds. In total, Mattox claimed approximately $165 million in refunds on behalf of the purported trusts. The IRS paid $5 million of the requested refunds. Mattox used those funds to purchase a new house, a luxury automobile and other personal expenses. New Leadership Team Announced for the U.S Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia 07/14/2022 08:00 AM EDT MACON, Ga. – U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary has elevated three Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) to leadership roles within the 70-county U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen has been named the Deputy Criminal Chief; Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Helmick will become the Branch Chief for the Columbus, Georgia, Division; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Simon will serve as the Senior Litigation Counsel (SLC) for the Civil Division. These three attorneys join recently promoted First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Criminal Chief Shanelle Booker, Civil Chief Kevin Abernethy and Senior Litigation Counsel (SLC) for the Criminal Division Robert McCullers to comprise the legal leadership in the office. Central Georgia Bookkeeper Sentenced for Defrauding Three Small Businesses 07/12/2022 08:00 AM EDT MACON, Ga. – A Putnam County, Georgia, resident who admitted to stealing $156,734.76 from three small businesses that employed her as a part-time bookkeeper was sentenced to prison for her crime and ordered to pay restitution to the victims. Alicia Merritt, 48, of Eatonton, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. "Tripp" Self, III today after previously pleading guilty to one count of bank fraud. In addition, Merritt was ordered to repay $146,660.66 in restitution to the victims. There is no parole in the federal system. Decatur County Man with Violent Felony Criminal History Pleads Guilty to Possessing Numerous Stolen Firearms 07/08/2022 08:00 AM EDT ALBANY, Ga. – A South Georgia resident with a violent criminal history found in possession of numerous stolen firearms and who released his dog to attack deputies before he fled arrest has pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge in a Project Safe Neighborhoods case. James Currin, 44, of Bainbridge, Georgia, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on July 7. Currin is facing a maximum ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled for X. There is no parole in the federal system. Federal Judge Hands Down Ten-Year Sentence, Lifetime of Supervised Release to Former Georgia Pastor for Sexually Assaulting Ugandan Minor 07/06/2022 08:00 AM EDT MACON, Ga. – A former pastor from Georgia who was conducting missionary work in Uganda when he sexually assaulted a girl under his care was sentenced by a federal judge this evening to serve above the guideline sentencing range for his crime. Eric Tuininga, 45, of Milledgeville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release and $20,000 in restitution to the victim by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. In addition, Tuininga will have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Tifton Bartender Pleads Guilty for Distributing Meth, Fentanyl from L.A. to South Central Georgia 07/01/2022 08:00 AM EDT VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Tifton man who was working as a bartender while brokering large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl pleaded guilty to distribution. Edgar Fernando Neri aka Colocho, 21, of Tifton, Georgia pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine before U.S. Senior District Judge Hugh Lawson on June 21. Neri faces a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a maximum $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 21. There is no parole in the federal system. Atlanta Man Pleads Guilty in Tri-State Check Cashing Scheme Targeting Publix 06/30/2022 08:00 AM EDT ALBANY, Ga. – An Atlanta resident who pleaded guilty for his role in a check cashing scheme targeting Publix grocery stores in Georgia, Florida and Alabama was remanded to federal custody today. Brandon Lamont Bell, 37, pleaded guilty to possession of counterfeit and unauthorized devices on June 23. Bell faces a maximum of ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Bell was remanded to federal custody at a petition for action on conditions of pretrial release hearing before U.S. District Judge Louis Sands today. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 29. Georgia Couple Sentenced to Combined 90 Years in Prison for Producing Child Sexual Assault Material 06/29/2022 08:00 AM EDT ALBANY, Ga. – A Valdosta, Georgia, couple who admitted to producing child sexual assault material involving multiple minor victims was sentenced to the maximum prison term allowed by law today for their crimes. Jayson E. Wright, 36, was sentenced to serve the maximum 360 months in prison per count consecutively for a total of 720 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release and $625,000 in restitution to four victims after he previously pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography. Kara Wright, 33, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release and $625,000 in restitution to four victims after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography. Both defendants will have to register as sex offenders for life upon their release from federal prison. The sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands at the C.B. King U.S. Courthouse in Albany. There is no parole in the federal system. Federal Jury Convicts Leader of Large Meth, Fentanyl Trafficking Network 06/28/2022 08:00 AM EDT ALBANY, Ga. – A documented member of a criminal street gang organization who led a drug distribution network responsible for trafficking more than 150 kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and other illegal drugs into Southwest Georgia and an associate were found guilty Monday evening on multiple drug charges by a federal jury following a week-long trial. Jamie Keith aka JGottiDaBoss aka Cocho, 40, of Albany, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Artarious Davis aka Showboat aka Boat, 41, of Albany, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The verdict was reached following a trial that began on Tuesday, June 20 and ended on Monday, June 27 before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner. Keith and Davis each face a maximum term of life imprisonment. Sentencing has not been scheduled. Convicted Gang Member Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Gun Possession in Project Safe Neighborhoods Case 06/24/2022 08:00 AM EDT VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Valdosta resident and member of a criminal street gang organization was sentenced to serve more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a gun. Deontrey Demorria Crumpton, 25, was sentenced to a total of 105 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release to run concurrently with any term of imprisonment imposed in a Miami-Dade County, Florida, state case and consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed in a pending Lowndes County, Georgia, state case for probation violation. Crumpton previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson handed down the sentence on June 21. There is no parole in the federal system. Former Fort Stewart Soldier Sentenced to Prison for Producing Child Sexual Assault Material 06/23/2022 08:00 AM EDT ALBANY, Ga. – A former soldier who admitted to producing child sexual assault material involving a 13-year-old victim was sentenced to prison for his crime. Aaron D. Sutherland, 28, formerly of Fort Stewart, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 180 months in prison to be followed by 25 years of supervised release and $250,000 restitution by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on June 22 after he previously pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. In addition, Sutherland will have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole. Former Valdosta State Prison Supervisory Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Felony for Attempted Cover-Up of Assault on Inmate 06/22/2022 08:00 AM EDT VALDOSTA, Ga. – A former supervisory correctional officer at Valdosta State Prison pleaded guilty today in federal court for attempting to conceal an assault on an inmate. Geary Staten, 31, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony for attempting to conceal an assault on an inmate incarcerated at the facility before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson. Staten faces a statutory maximum three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 21. There is no parole in the federal system. Tifton Man Who Led Police on High-Speed Chase Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking Heroin to South Central Georgia 06/22/2022 08:00 AM EDT VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Tifton, Georgia, resident was sentenced to twelve and a half years in prison resulting from his role actively trafficking large quantities of heroin into South Central Georgia from sources in metro Atlanta. Joshua Gannon Deanda, 24, was sentenced to serve 150 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on June 21 after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin. There is no parole in the federal system. Alleged Gangster Disciples Members Indicted for Murder, Federal Racketeering Charges 06/16/2022 08:00 AM EDT MACON, Ga. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging five alleged members of the Gangster Disciples with murder and racketeering related to the alleged murder of three people, as well as various other offenses including drug trafficking and obstruction of justice. Philmon Deshawn Chambers, aka Dolla Phil, 33, of Atlanta; Andrea Paige Browner, aka Light Brite, aka Shawty, 27, of Athens, Georgia; Lesley Chappell Green, aka Grip, 34, of Stone Mountain, Georgia; Robert Maurice Carlisle, aka Different, 33, of Lithonia, Georgia; and Shabazz Larry Guidry, aka Lil L, aka L, aka Lil Bro, aka Lil Larry, 27, of Decatur, Georgia, are each charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy. Chambers and Browner are additionally charged with Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering-murder (VICAR); the carry, use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and use of a firearm resulting in death. U.S. Attorney's Office Offers Training, Resources to Combat Elder Abuse 06/15/2022 08:00 AM EDT MACON, Ga. – The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia offers training and resources for its citizens to prevent and respond to elder abuse. "The U.S. Attorney's Office, through the Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative, is committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation," said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. "Elder abuse is a serious crime affecting an estimated one out of ten older Americans annually, although those numbers are likely even higher. Working with our law enforcement and community partners, our office will continue to seek justice for vulnerable citizens through enforcement actions, training and resources, victim services and public awareness." Macon Man Sentenced as Part of ATF's Operation United Front 06/09/2022 08:00 AM EDT MACON, Ga. – A third individual who pleaded guilty to a federal charge resulting from Operation United Front, an ongoing ATF-led investigation into illegal gun possession and drug distribution in Middle Georgia utilizing the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), was sentenced to prison. Jasper Blackshear, 57, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 130 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on June 8 after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base. Co-defendant Chadrick Purnell, 43, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison on May 3 after he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Additionally, co-defendant Jermaine White, 33, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 37 months imprisonment on May 4 after he pleaded guilty to two counts use of a communication facility. There is no parole in the federal system. 12th Defendant Sentenced in Dog-Fighting, Drug Distribution Ring 06/07/2022 08:00 AM EDT MACON, Ga. – The 12th defendant prosecuted as part of an extensive investigation into a dog-fighting and cocaine distribution network spanning three states was sentenced for his crimes in federal court today. Shelley Johnson aka Gold Mouth, 40, of Macon, Georgia, was sentenced to serve the maximum guideline sentence of 37 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $25,000 fine by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. "Tripp" Self, III after he previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture. As a condition of his supervised release, Johnson is prohibited from owning or possessing dogs. There is no parole in the federal system. Moultrie, Georgia, Resident Guilty for Trafficking a Kilo of Crystal Meth 06/07/2022 08:00 AM EDT ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia resident admitted in federal court last week that he was attempting to distribute one kilogram of crystal methamphetamine in his hometown. Anthony Giddens, 40, of Moultrie, Georgia, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on June 2. Giddens faces a maximum 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing has not been scheduled. There is no parole in the federal system. Gang Member with a Dozen Prior Convictions Sentenced to 200 Months Imprisonment Resulting from Project Safe Neighborhoods Investigation 06/06/2022 08:00 AM EDT ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia resident and gang member with an extensive criminal history was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison after a federal jury found him guilty on all counts. Quinton Jarod Simmons, 30, of Adel, Georgia, was sentenced to a total of 200 months for possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on June 2 in Albany. Simmons was convicted on all counts on Thursday, Feb. 10, resulting from a four-day trial at the Valdosta, Georgia, federal courthouse. Gun Store Burglar, Trafficker Sentenced to 108 Months Imprisonment 06/03/2022 08:00 AM EDT ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia resident who broke into two Cordele, Georgia, gun stores, stealing multiple firearms and selling or distributing them in the community was sentenced to prison for his crimes. Demetri Lott, 44, of Ashburn, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on June 1, after previously pleading guilty to two counts of theft of a firearm from a licensed dealer. There is no parole in the federal system. Operation Washout Classic City Results in Arrests of Most Wanted Individuals in Athens-Clarke County Region 06/02/2022 08:00 AM EDT ATHENS, Ga. –An eight-day multi-agency operation to curb violent crime in the Athens-Clarke County and surrounding communities resulted in wanted repeat violent offenders and documented gang members taken into custody on various state charges. These cases are currently under federal investigation and no federal charges have been filed at this time. "Operation Washout Classic City" took place between May 18 – 25, amassing federal, state and local law enforcement resources to arrest the most wanted individuals in the area, including repeat violent offenders and gang members, who had eluded police. The operation was led by the U.S. Marshals Service-Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (USMS SERFTF), and included FBI, ATF, DEA, GBI, Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS), Georgia State Patrol (GPS), Organized Crime and Gang Unit-Atlanta (OCAG), Oconee County Sheriff's Office, Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office, Athens-Clarke County Police Department and Western Circuit District Attorney's Office with support from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Former Muscogee Co. Deputy Clerk of Court Sentenced to 145 Months Imprisonment in Historic Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Case 06/02/2022 08:00 AM EDT COLUMBUS, Ga. – The ring-leader of a massive and lengthy scheme to drain the Muscogee County Clerk of Courts' coffers of millions of dollars was sentenced to prison for his crime today, along with five co-defendants. Willie Demps, 64, of Phenix City, Alabama, and the former Deputy Clerk of Court for Muscogee County, Georgia, was sentenced to serve the guideline maximum of 121 months imprisonment for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. On each of the two counts of tax evasion, he was given 60 months imprisonment with 12 months to be served consecutively to the bank fraud sentence. The total amount of imprisonment is 145 months to be followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Clay Land handed down the sentence and ordered Demps to pay $1,323,045.21 in restitution to the Muscogee County Clerk of Court's Office and $359,604 to the IRS, joint and severable with the other defendants, and advised that Demps's retirement benefits be garnished to pay the restitution. In addition, the Government has requested a money judgement for $1,095,991, which will be ruled upon at a later date. There is no parole in the federal system. Judge Orders Middle Georgia Family Rehab to Pay $9.6 Million in Damages for Submitting Hundreds of Fraudulent TRICARE/Medicaid Claims 06/02/2022 08:00 AM EDT MACON, Ga. – The District Court for the Middle District of Georgia found in favor of the United States and the State of Georgia in a civil case involving the fraudulent billing of hundreds of TRICARE and Medicaid claims by a Macon health care facility, ordering the defendants to pay $9,617,679.22 in damages and penalties. U.S. District Judge Tilman E. "Tripp" Self, III issued the judgment following an evidentiary hearing in U.S. v. Middle Georgia Family Rehab (MGFR) on Tuesday, May 24. The judgment was entered today. Guilty Verdict in Macon State Prison Contraband Trial 05/26/2022 08:00 AM EDT MACON, Ga. – A Metro Atlanta resident was found guilty of trafficking methamphetamine intended for Macon State Prison. Raquan Emahl Gray, 26, of Conley, Georgia, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine by a federal jury on May 24, following a two-day trial that began on May 23, before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal. Gray faces a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $1,000,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been scheduled. 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