Three Macon residents have been convicted or sentenced on federal charges related to an illegal firearms and drug trafficking operation, according to an April 20 announcement. The cases are part of a larger investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) targeting criminal networks in the community.
Brandon Thorpe pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and faces up to 15 years in prison. Lonnie Alexander pleaded guilty to distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, with sentencing set for July 9; he faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison. John Cato was sentenced on Feb. 5 to serve fifteen years after pleading guilty to firearms trafficking.
U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes said, “High-capacity firearms and ammunition, including a machinegun, were removed from the streets of Macon and the defendants were held accountable for their crimes as a result of this ATF-led investigation.” Keyes added that his office is working closely with law enforcement partners "to uphold the law and make every community we serve safer." ATF Resident Agent in Charge Robert W. Davis said, “ATF remains committed to identifying and dismantling criminal networks trafficking firearms that fuel violent crime in our communities.”
According to court documents, Alexander was recorded making multiple illegal sales near Mercer University’s campus between April 2024 and April 2025. Cato sold several firearms—including a machinegun—and narcotics at various locations around Macon during this period. Thorpe assisted Cato by transporting him while carrying illegal weapons.
The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia advances community wellness by promoting cooperation with law enforcement to enhance public safety according to the official website. The office prosecutes federal crimes such as drug trafficking and violent offenses while managing civil litigation for the government across central Georgia's seventy counties serving about two million residents according to its official website. Facilities are maintained in Macon, Albany, and Columbus as reported by its official website.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at eliminating cartels and protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
