Atlanta Man with Criminal Past Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm

MACON, Ga. - A metro Atlanta resident with a lengthy criminal past, including aggravated assault and obstructing a police officer, was sentenced to serve more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm in the Middle District of Georgia.

"Convicted felons with violent histories who are caught illegally possessing firearms will face federal prosecution in the Middle District of Georgia," said U.S. Attorney William R. "Will" Keyes. "I appreciate the dedicated efforts of our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to bring repeat offenders to justice and keep our communities safe."

"The Butts County Sheriff's Office is grateful to the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia, and United States Attorney William Keyes, for their partnership and commitment to prosecuting violent offenders," said Butts County Sheriff Gary Long. "Through continued collaboration with our federal partners, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure violent criminals are held accountable."

La'Qyale Emmanuel Fortson, 35, of Riverdale, Georgia, and of Butts County, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Sept. 3, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on May 19. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents and statements in court, a deputy with the Butts County Sheriff's Office stopped Fortson's vehicle for following a tractor-trailer too closely on Interstate 75. The deputy approached the vehicle and detected an odor of marijuana when Fortson rolled down his window. Fortson denied the odor and advised he did not smoke marijuana. The deputy deployed a narcotics detection dog who performed a free air sniff of the vehicle. After the dog showed odor responses in two areas, the deputy advised he would be searching the vehicle. Fortson then admitted that he had marijuana in the center console. The search yielded a small quantity of suspected marijuana in the center console; an open tequila bottle behind the passenger seat; and an unloaded Glock pistol underneath the driver's seat. The pistol was confirmed as stolen out of East Point, Georgia, and he said he purchased it from one of his "weed buddies." Fortson admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing the pistol because he was a convicted felon. Fortson has a lengthy criminal history, to include prior convictions for aggravated assault, obstructing a peace officer, and battery.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

The Butts County Sheriff's Office investigated the case.

Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.