Norman Park man sentenced on firearms charges

ALBANY — A Colquitt County resident with a lengthy criminal history in the community who is associated with the Ghostface Gangsters was sentenced to prison for illegally possessing a firearm when he was taken into custody while wanted on an outstanding warrant.

Marion C. Wells, 48, of Norman Park has been sentenced to serve 85 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge W Louis Sands. Wells previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Sept. 19. The defendant is not eligible for parole.

“Repeat felony offenders who continually disregard the law and are caught with guns will face federal prosecution,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said in a news release. “This case was brought to our attention by the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office and their local Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force, a collaboration of law enforcement and community members working to find effective, evidence-based solutions to reduce crime.”

“Marion Wells has left a long trail of pain and destruction throughout his time in Georgia,” Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Rich Bilson of FBI Atlanta’s Albany office said. “This case shows when we work together and share information, good results occur. Every resource and every force multiplier we possess, will be used to accomplish that goal.”

According to court documents, Wells was wanted on an outstanding warrant for a parole violation on Feb. 4, 2021, when Colquitt County deputies received a tip about his whereabouts and that he was in possession of a rifle. That day, deputies observed Wells driving in Moultrie and conducted a traffic stop. In plain view in the back seat was a rifle with a night scope loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition. There was also 20 grams of methamphetamine under the driver’s side back seat, along with a box of plastic Ziploc bags, two glass smoking devices and lighter, 16 9mm rounds and $3,390 cash.

Wells has a lengthy criminal history in Colquitt County and the southwest Georgia region spanning nearly three decades, including multiple felony drug charges, criminal attempt to commit a felony, eluding police officers and battery-family violence.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. The case was investigated by the FBI Gang Task Force and the Moultrie-Colquitt County Drug Enforcement Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica L. Daniels prosecuted the case for the government.

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