ALBANY - Four defendants in four unique cases entered guilty pleas or were sentenced in Project Safe Neighborhoods related cases today, said Charles “Charlie" Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) is a Department of Justice initiative to partner with local law enforcement to reduce violent crime rates, remove guns from the hands of convicted felons and ultimately make communities safer. In the Middle District of Georgia, the federal prosecutions of gun crimes increased by 25% in 2018 over 2017.
The four defendants are as follows:
Rontavis Davis, 39, of Albany, Georgia, was sentenced to 120 months and three years supervised release by the Honorable Leslie Gardner on one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. According to the plea agreement, drugs and a pistol were found on Mr. Davis during a routine traffic stop in Dougherty County in February 2018. Mr. Davis was previously convicted of Theft by Receiving Stolen Property and Forgery on June 13, 1997, Child Molestation on May 5, 1997, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon on Aug. 1, 2002, Possession of Cocaine on Aug. 20, 2007, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender on Aug. 20, 2007, and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute on Sept. 13, 2013, all cases in Dougherty County Superior Court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen is prosecuting this case for the Government.
Isiah Price, 28, of Dawson, GA, was sentenced to 48 months and three years supervised release by the Honorable Leslie Gardner on one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. According to the indictment, Mr. Price was illegally in possession of a 9mm caliber handgun. A police report reveals that the handgun was found in Mr. Price’s possession during the investigation of an aggravated assault. Mr. Price was previously convicted of the felony offense of Theft by Taking Motor Vehicle in Terrell County Superior Court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Dasher is prosecuting this case for the Government.
LaFabian Savage, 23, of Cordele, GA, was sentenced to 30 months and three years supervised release by the Honorable Leslie Gardner on one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and one count of Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute. According to the plea agreement, Mr. Savage fled from police on foot when law enforcement officers were attempting to execute a warrant at a Cordele business in January 2017. When Mr. Savage was apprehended, he had two bags of marijuana weighing a total of 51 grams, scales and a loaded revolver. Mr. Savage was previously convicted of Theft by Taking in Crisp County Superior Court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Dasher is prosecuting this case for the Government.
Kenneth Diamond Fountain, 28, of Valdosta, GA entered a guilty plea before the Honorable Louis Sands on one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. According to the plea agreement, Mr. Fountain was arrested on April 5, 2018 in Valdosta on two violent felony warrants, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Possession of Firearm or Knife During the Commission or Attempt to Commit Certain Felonies. These charges stem from an assault with a handgun on June 24, 2017 in which Mr. Fountain was allegedly the shooter, and authorities had been searching for Mr. Fountain since the incident. While a fugitive, there were a series of shootings in which Mr. Fountain was mentioned as a person of interest. Mr. Fountain was previously convicted of Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Lowndes County Superior Court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Bowen is prosecuting this case for the Government.
“Guns do not belong in the hands of criminals, and as evidenced by the number of gun-related federal prosecutions in Albany today, law enforcement in our communities are relentless in their pursuit of stopping criminal activity by repeat felons," said Charles Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “Reducing violent crime is a priority for this Office, and we will continue to be ready to assist our local law enforcement partners in this mutual goal."
“I appreciate the fact we have the teeth with a felony prosecution to go after the most dangerous people in our community who carry armed weapons," said Greg Edwards, District Attorney for the Dougherty Judicial Circuit (Albany). “These are convicted felons, with guns, and it is vital to take away guns from people that shouldn’t have them. Convicted felons with guns will get serious time, and I hope this message sinks in for those out there who want to break the law."
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
