Two men from South Georgia with prior criminal convictions were sentenced to prison on March 25 for illegally possessing firearms in separate cases connected to Operation Take Back America.
The sentencing highlights the continued efforts by federal and local authorities to address gun-related offenses by repeat offenders. Both defendants were on state parole at the time of their crimes, raising concerns about community safety and the effectiveness of existing supervision measures.
Jacques Lamar Hill, also known as "Jac DaDon," age 27 of Thomasville, received a sentence of 108 months in prison, which will run concurrently with any state sentence he faces in Lowndes County. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Porterfield Stokes, age 69 of Valdosta, was sentenced to 180 months in prison after pleading guilty to the same charge. Both sentences include three years of supervised release following imprisonment. Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands presided over both cases.
U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes said, “Repeat criminal offenders caught illegally possessing firearms in the Middle District of Georgia will find their cases in federal court, where there is no parole.” Keyes added that his office would continue enforcing these laws alongside law enforcement partners "to protect communities." FBI Atlanta’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Peter Ellis said, “Both Jacques Lamar Hill and Porterfield Stokes are repeat offenders who continue to pose a significant threat to our communities by illegally possessing firearms despite their prior criminal convictions.” Ellis stated that the FBI remains committed "to working alongside our local law enforcement partners" and ensuring violators face consequences.
Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan commented on the collaboration between agencies: “These arrests and sentences demonstrate the strength of our partnership with our federal counterparts and our shared commitment to holding repeat offenders accountable.” Manahan said individuals who possess firearms illegally "pose a dangerous threat" and promised continued joint efforts against such offenses.
Operation Take Back America is described as an initiative using Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration, cartels, transnational crime organizations, and violent crime perpetrators. The Hill case was investigated by the FBI and Valdosta Police Department; Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit prosecuted it for the government. The Stokes case involved similar investigative agencies plus assistance from Georgia’s Department of Community Supervision; Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels handled prosecution.
