Evergreen Reporter

New indictments have been returned in the Southern District of Georgia, alleging illegal firearm possession by felons. Some defendants have already been sentenced to federal prison or are awaiting further proceedings after pleading guilty to gun charges.

"Getting guns out of the hands of those who can’t legally possess them is a vital part of the effort to reduce violent crime," stated Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. "We applaud our law enforcement partners for their diligent work in keeping our communities safe."

These cases are prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, which collaborates with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI to combat violent crime by targeting convicted felons who illegally possess firearms.

The recent indictments include Taron Charleston from Dublin charged with illegal possession of a machine gun; Shanan Lee Grover from Wrightsville charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Timothy Lee Cheeks from Augusta also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and Charles Harmon Porter from Savannah charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

Previously indicted individuals include Stephen Joseph Sala from Augusta for possession of an unregistered firearm and Jahmz Ransom from Savannah for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. All indicted individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Recent adjudications on federal firearms charges include Nathan Sparks sentenced to 130 months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Other sentences range from 21 months to over ten years for similar offenses across various locations in Georgia.

Under federal law, possessing firearms is prohibited for certain categories including felons and illegal aliens. It is also unlawful to purchase firearms if one falls into these categories or attempts straw purchases. Misrepresenting information on ATF Form 4473 is also federally prosecutable.

For more information on lawful purchasing procedures, refer to: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atfw-form-4473