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, according to a July 16 announcement from Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
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; Tavis Tallent, 26, also from Richmond County; and Raheem Kirkland, 30, of Savannah—all indicted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Luis Alvarado-Pavedes, 18, from Honduras was indicted for illegal possession of a machinegun and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
Statutory penalties cited include up to ten years in prison for illegal possession of a machinegun. Possession of a firearm by either a convicted felon or an illegal alien may result in up to fifteen years in prison along with significant financial penalties and up to three years supervised release.
Six men are charged with re-entry after removal or deportation: Juan Capulin-Martinez (52), Juan DeSantiago-Castillo (40), Juan Carlos Martinez-Perez (41), Francisco Javier Mendez-Villa (32), Hector Ezquivel Mireles (35), and Juan Miguel Osorio Rojas (40). All are citizens of Mexico who were allegedly present illegally in the United States after at least one prior removal or deportation. The arrests occurred across Camden County, Atkinson County, Bulloch County, and Glynn County.
The announcement emphasized that criminal indictments contain only charges; all defendants are considered innocent unless proven guilty. The cases have been investigated by agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; Chatham County Sheriff’s Office; Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; as well as local law enforcement agencies. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karl I. Knoche, Kelsey L. Scanlon, Makeia R. Jonese, Lauren C. Olsen, Henry W. Syms Jr., and Matthew A. Breedon.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia prosecutes federal crimes—including firearms offenses—and manages civil litigation on behalf of the United States while promoting community safety through programs such as Project Safe Neighborhoods, according to the official website of the office. The office operates out of Savannah with an additional staffed branch in Augusta employing about seventy attorneys and support staff under the Department of Justice.