Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Derek Edward Miller, age 31, of Thomasville, Georgia, was sentenced on Monday, Aug. 26, 2013,by the Honorable Hugh Lawson, Senior United States District Judge in Valdosta, Georgia, to serve 262 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
As part of his plea of guilty, Mr. Miller admitted that he possessed a Hi-Point,.380 caliber, Model CF handgun that had been reported stolen from a residence in Thomas County, Georgia. In addition to this firearm, which Mr. Miller admitted to stealing and possessing in his plea, court records revealed that Mr. Miller’s criminal history involved three previous burglaries which subjected him to enhanced sentencing as an armed career criminal.
“As a convicted felon, Mr. Miller had no business possessing a firearm, especially one that had been stolen. The choices that he made in his past, particularly those that caused him to be classified as an armed career criminal, have now resulted in a prison sentence of more than 20 years," said United States Attorney Michael Moore.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter Leary.
Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney's Office at (478) 621-2602.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
