Defendants from southwest Georgia named in federal indictments
Federal grand jury true billed indictments charging more than 20 new individuals earlier this week
File Photo
From Staff Reports
ALBANY — A federal grand jury returned indictments during the month of December, several of which involve defendants from southwest Georgia.
Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced earlier this week that the grand jury true billed indictments charging more than 20 new individuals.
“The successful collaboration between law enforcement at every level helped bring these cases before a federal grand jury,” Peeler said. “I want to thank our local, state and federal law enforcement for their dedication and hard work.”
The individuals from southwest Georgia include:
— Claudia Washington, 59, of Valdosta, is charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute methadone and hydrocodone. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, or both, on each count.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit.
— Randy Angelo Hill, 32, of Tifton, is charged with bank robbery. If convicted, Hill faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Tifton Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Solis.
— Laxavier Patterson, 39, of Valdosta, is charged with theft of a firearm from a federal firearms licensee, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Patterson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, on each count.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, and the Valdosta Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Profit.
— Calvin Amos, 35, of Albany, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.
If convicted on the cocaine charge, Amos faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. If convicted on the marijuana charge, he faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge, Amos faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted on the possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense charge, he faces five years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Crane.
— Isaiah Walker, 34, of Valdosta, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Walker faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. McCullers.
— Davey Barge Jr., 37, of Moultrie, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Barge faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both. The case was investigated by the Moultrie Police Department and is being prosecuted by McCullers.
Peeler said an indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and that all of the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
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