COLUMBUS: Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Marcus Crocker, age 44, of Lumpkin, Georgia, pled guilty on Sept. 27, 2018 to Possession of Cocaine Base with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Clay D. Land in Columbus, Georgia. A trial in the case was set to begin today.
In entering his plea, Mr. Crocker admitted that officers with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by members of the Lumpkin and Richland Police Departments, used a confidential reliable source to make two recorded, controlled purchases of cocaine base, aka crack cocaine, from him at his residence in Lumpkin on March 2, 2017 and March 3, 2017. At the time, Mr. Crocker was on probation for a previous drug offense. A subsequent search of Mr. Crocker’s home produced three firearms, ammunition, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana, and various items commonly associated with drug trafficking, such as baggies, vials, scales, and cash.
Mr. Crocker was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to seven prior felony convictions for various offenses.
On the narcotics charge, Mr. Crocker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten (10) years’ imprisonment, up to a maximum sentence of Life in Prison, and a maximum $8 million fine. On the firearms charge, Mr. Crocker faces a mandatory minimum five (5) years’ imprisonment, to be served consecutively, up to Life in Prison, and a maximum $250,000 fine.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The case was investigated by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Lumpkin Police Department, Richland Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
