A man from Hahira, Georgia, with a history of felony convictions, is facing a potential life sentence after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm. Eric Jerome Tooley, 46, admitted to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on January 22. As an armed career criminal, Tooley faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and up to life, followed by five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The sentencing date has not yet been set. Federal law does not allow parole.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the incident occurred on February 19, 2025. A Valdosta Police Department officer heard gunshots coming from the Mega Mart on North Lee Street while on patrol. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found that Tooley had fired three shots inside the store after becoming agitated with the cashier over a lighter. Surveillance footage showed Tooley pointing his pistol at the clerk and firing between two customers. He was apprehended nearby without further incident.
Tooley has previous felony drug distribution convictions in Cobb County and Lowndes County Superior Courts in Georgia. Convicted felons are prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
U.S. Attorney William R “Will” Keyes stated: “Armed repeat offenders found endangering people’s safety will find their cases prosecuted at the federal level, where there is no parole. I commend the bravery displayed by the responding Valdosta Police Department officers and their work to safely apprehend the defendant. We are grateful for the continued partnership with law enforcement at every level to keep people safe.”
ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka commented: “This defendant’s actions showed a complete disregard for human life—firing inside a business and endangering innocent bystanders. ATF will continue to work alongside the Valdosta Police Department and our law enforcement partners to ensure repeat violent offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable in federal court.”
Valdosta Police Department Chief Leslie Manahan added: “This case is a great example of the importance of collaboration between local, state and federal partners. We thank the United States Attorney’s Office for their diligence and leadership in prosecuting this violent offender and helping to protect our community.”
The investigation was conducted by the Valdosta Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and addressing violent crime through coordinated efforts involving various Justice Department resources such as OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhood.
