A Savannah man was sentenced on July 15 to more than 35 years in federal prison after being convicted of firearm and drug-related charges.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Maurice Williams, also known as “Bando,” age 23, received a sentence of 421 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after convictions including two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone and Marijuana. Williams also pled guilty to two additional counts of Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun and two counts of Distribution of Fentanyl.
Court documents show that an investigation began in September 2023 led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which included undercover purchases involving firearms equipped with machinegun conversion devices (MCDs) as well as controlled buys involving hundreds of pills containing fentanyl. During a traffic stop in September 2024 conducted by Savannah Police, Williams was found with a Glock Model 21 pistol fitted with an MCD, oxycodone, and more than 300 grams of marijuana.
“There is no parole in the federal system,” officials said. U.S. Attorney Heap said, “The extensive illegal activity this defendant was involved in, peddling illicit drugs and selling dangerous weapons will not be tolerated. Along with our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring that felons that terrorize our community face long, federal prison sentences without opportunities for parole.”
Savannah Police Chief Lenny B. Gunther said, “I want to thank our officers and federal partners for their hard work on this case. Savannah is a safer place for having removed drugs, illegal guns, and a criminal from our community.” ATF Resident Agent in Charge Chase Anastasio added, “Today’s sentencing highlights the importance of our ongoing partnerships in law enforcement. By working together, we can effectively target and disrupt the flow of illegal firearms and drugs in our neighborhoods.”
This case was investigated by ATF along with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Savannah Police Department’s Strategic Investigations Unit and Community Response Team; it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner and Makeia R. Jonese for the Southern District.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District prosecutes federal crimes—including those related to firearms—and manages civil litigation for the United States while employing about 70 attorneys and staff across offices based mainly in Savannah but also Augusta; it operates under the United States Department of Justice where programs such as Project Safe Neighborhoods promote community safety through partnerships between law enforcement agencies, according to the official website.