News

A Columbus man found guilty for attempting to sell 11,995 grams of cocaine to an undercover agent could spend up to life in prison for his crime.

ALBANY – Three defendants involved in scheme to deliver illegal drugs to inmates in prison will be sentenced for their crimes, announced Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Crystal Avery, 37, of Lithia Springs, GA, Timothy Bailey, 31, of Lawrenceville, GA and Cody Brousshard, 35, of Lawrenceville, GA have all pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to a drug ring operating out of Calhoun State Prison, where Mr. Brousshard was an inmate.

MACON — The co-defendants involved in what is considered to be the largest heroin and fentanyl bust ever in Warner Robins have all pleaded guilty to their crimes in federal court, said U.S. Attorney Charles “Charlie” Peeler. These defendants entered pleas in February and March 2019. The final co-defendant, Jonathan Haslem, entered a guilty plea on Friday, March 8, 2019 in Macon federal court before The Honorable Marc Treadwell. Sentencing dates have not been set.

COLUMBUS – A citizen jury has returned a guilty verdict against a North Carolina elementary school custodian charged with enticing a child for sex, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. William Pruitt, 49, of Franklin, North Carolina, was found guilty late Thursday afternoon on one count of Enticing a Minor for Sex. The charge carries a minimum ten years to a maximum life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The trial began Monday, March 4, 2019 in a Columbus federal courtroom, presided over by the Honorable Clay D. Land. There is no parole in

ALBANY, GA – A man charged in the assault of a federal postal employee Wednesday had an initial appearance today, announced Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Traveyon Devante Wilcox, of Donalsonville, GA, had his initial appearance before The Honorable Thomas Q. Langstaff, U.S. Magistrate Judge. Mr. Wilcox is facing one count of Assault on a Federal Employee, a charge that carries up to 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Mr. Wilcox is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. A

ATHENS – A federal judge in Athens on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon to 110 months in prison for illegally possessing a gun, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. The Honorable C. Ashley Royal sentenced Dontavious Maurice Jackson, 30, of Athens to 110 months in federal prison, plus three years supervised release. Mr. Jackson pled guilty in October 2018 to one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. There is no parole in the federal system.

Two former bank tellers were sentenced today to prison and ordered to pay more than $1.6 million dollars to the institution they defrauded.

A new call to action in the fight to decrease violent crime in Middle and South Georgia was issued today with the release of a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

MACON – An Albany man was indicted on bankruptcy fraud charges this month by a federal grand jury, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Timothy Wayne Giles, 39, of Albany, GA was indicted on one count of False Bankruptcy Declaration for allegedly making false statements in a bankruptcy petition and one count of False Statements Under Oath in Bankruptcy for allegedly making false statements under oath at a 341 Creditors meeting. An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless

MACON –United States Attorney Charles “Charlie” E. Peeler stood alongside law enforcement leadership from across the Middle District of Georgia today in support of the region’s collective efforts to make communities safer and deter crime. Macon Regional Crimestoppers, a community-run organization dedicated to increasing the safety of citizens, announced on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 a new quarterly initiative offering a $1,000 reward for the Top 15 Most Wanted within an eight-county area. U.S. Attorney Peeler joined Bibb County Sheriff David Davis and U.S. Marshal John Cary Bittick in vocal

ALBANY – The first of two co-defendants charged in the armed robbery of an Albany bank was found guilty following a four day trial, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. A citizen jury found Kamilyah Whitlock, 25, of Albany guilty late Thursday afternoon on all charges, Bank Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm.

MACON— The defendant in the center of a scheme to award millions of dollars in military contracts in exchange for illegal kickbacks at Robins Air Force Base was sentenced in federal court Wednesday, announced Charles “Charlie” E. Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. The Honorable Marc Treadwell sentenced Mark Cundiff, 60, of Macon, to 36 months in prison followed by two years supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amounts of $110,050 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and $270,000 to the U.S. Treasury.