U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary | U.S. Department of Justice
A Southwest Georgia resident, Marcus Ryan Telfair, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for illegal firearm possession. The sentencing was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner after Telfair pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary stated, “Repeat convicted felons caught with firearms during the commission of other crimes will see their cases in federal court.” He emphasized the commitment to community safety and accountability for serial offenders.
ATF Assistant Special Agent Beau Kolodka remarked, "Today’s sentence reflects our commitment to ensuring that those with a history of violent crime are held accountable for their actions." He highlighted the threat posed by illegal firearm possession among convicted felons.
Albany Police Chief Michael Persley noted the collaborative efforts with state and federal partners in addressing career criminals. “It is my desire that the message is loud and clear that if a person commits a crime and possesses a firearm, there are no limits to the full prosecution of those actions,” he said.
Court documents reveal that Albany Police Department officers responded to an incident on October 23, 2023, where Telfair threatened a landscaper with a gun while dragging a woman by her hair on West Society Avenue. The police found him hiding under a porch with a stolen 9mm semiautomatic pistol and knife in his backpack. Additional stolen items were recovered from his possession during arrest.
Telfair has prior convictions including robbery and interfering with government property in Dougherty County, Georgia.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Albany Police Department investigated the case with assistance from ATF, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Redavid prosecuted it for the government.
