A Savannah man has been sentenced to nearly 50 years in federal prison after being convicted on multiple charges related to drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and attempting to influence a juror. Malik Javier McKenzie, 27, was found guilty in U.S. District Court following a two-day trial on charges including Possession of Controlled Substances With Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Machinegun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
During the trial, authorities discovered that McKenzie tried to contact a juror through an intermediary with an offer of payment for a not guilty verdict. The attempt was identified before any contact occurred. After his conviction and further investigation by the FBI, McKenzie pleaded guilty to Obstruction of Justice by Endeavoring to Influence a Juror.
On July 22, 2025, Chief Judge R. Stan Baker sentenced McKenzie to serve 595 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentences for his convictions will run concurrently but are consecutive to other sentences he is already serving for prior drug trafficking and supervised release violations stemming from earlier federal convictions. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole.
“Malik McKenzie is a repeat offender who refuses to learn from his past mistakes,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “This time, he tried to undermine our entire judicial system by attempting to bribe a juror in his trial. We are thankful for our federal and local partners for stopping this attempt and helping put this criminal behind bars for the next 49 plus years.”
“Guns, drugs, and violence are unfortunately all too common tools of the drug traffickers operating in our communities,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Today’s announcement demonstrates DEA’s emphatic commitment to attacking the drug dealers responsible for the devastation.”
"This case exemplifies the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies. By working together, we can effectively combat the threats posed by drug traffickers and keep our neighborhoods safe from violence and illegal firearms," said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at ATF.
The case was investigated as part of Operation Take Back America—an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations—utilizing resources from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). The investigation involved agents from ATF, DEA, FBI, Hinesville Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley R. Thompson.
Project Safe Neighborhoods brings together law enforcement at various levels with the goal of reducing violent crime through cooperation between agencies.
