Peter D. Leary, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia
A resident of Southwest Georgia has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for stealing 62 firearms from a pawn shop in Macon. Rontavious Jamal Jackson, aged 34 and hailing from Cordele, Georgia, received a sentence of 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal delivered the sentence on February 27. Jackson had previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on August 13, 2024. In the federal system, parole is not an option.
Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker commented on the case, stating, “This case demonstrates the collaboration between our local and federal law enforcement partners to bring criminal gun traffickers to justice.” She emphasized the commitment at all levels of law enforcement to prevent illegal firearms from reaching criminals.
ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka highlighted the gravity of the crime: “We take this crime very seriously," he said. "There were 62 firearms on the street, with the strong potential of being sold to or used by other criminals."
Bibb County Sheriff David J. Davis expressed hope that this case would send a clear message about the consequences for convicted felons possessing firearms: “I am grateful for the relationship between the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office and our federal partners.”
Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock praised his agency's efforts and cooperation with federal partners: "These stolen weapons could have been used to take innocent lives," he noted.
Court documents reveal that surveillance footage captured two individuals entering Howard’s Pawn & Jewelry at 3:00 a.m. on April 5, 2023, collecting firearms into garbage bags after smashing through an exterior wall with concrete blocks. On April 12, investigators acting on tips searched Jackson's residence in Cordele and recovered 32 firearms matching those stolen from Howard's Pawn & Jewelry.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including Bibb County Sheriff's Office, Crisp County Sheriff's Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Department of Community Supervision (DCS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom prosecuted the case for the government.
