A Valdosta resident with more than a dozen prior felony convictions was sentenced on July 29 to 84 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm used in an assault, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes said, “Violent armed repeat offenders who continually ignore the law and disturb the peace will be held accountable at the federal level for their crimes. Working alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, our office is identifying and bringing to justice the most egregious offenders.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons said, “ATF is committed to holding repeat offenders accountable and putting an end to their cycle of violence. Our communities are safer when those who consistently break our laws and threaten our safety are brought to justice.” Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan added, “The removal of violent career criminals from our community is not something that we can do alone. Through our continued partnership with our federal law enforcement partners and through Project Safe Neighborhoods, we are sending a clear message that those who repeatedly endanger our community will be held accountable. These collaborative efforts with our federal partners will continue to make a difference in keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
Charvez Thompson, 33, previously pleaded guilty on April 2 to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents and statements made in court, Valdosta Police responded on June 22, 2024, after receiving reports that Thompson had beaten and pistol-whipped a victim at a residence. Officers found visible injuries on the victim but none on Thompson, despite his claims he was struck first. A loaded revolver wrapped in electrical tape was found hidden in Thompson’s truck; both the victim and a witness identified it as being used during the assault.
Thompson has an extensive criminal history including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery convictions; as such, it is illegal for him to possess firearms.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is described as “the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement… together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime.” PSN emphasizes rapid response to violent crime offenders; strategic partnerships among agencies; accountability; deterrence through prosecution; as well as other strategies tailored by each U.S. Attorney’s office.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with Valdosta Police Department investigated this case while Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels prosecuted it for the government.
The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia serves approximately two million residents across seventy counties within central Georgia—including Macon, Albany and Columbus—prosecutes various federal crimes such as drug trafficking or terrorism cases while handling civil litigation on behalf of United States government over its jurisdiction area spanning more than twenty-five thousand square miles, according to its official website.