DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Southern District of Georgia

For Immediate Release

Monday, July 10, 2017
James D. Durham
, United States Attorney
www.justice.gov/usao-sdga

9 More Savannah Residents Indicted with Federal Gun Crimes as Part of Efforts to Combat Violent Crime

SAVANNAH, GA: Last week, as part of numerous ongoing investigations being conducted by the ATF and the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department (SCMPD), a federal grand jury sitting in Savannah charged 9 more Savannah residents with a variety of firearms offenses and drug crimes:

 

Eron Ventura, 24, of Savannah, charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking;
 
Tevin Lawton, 25, of Savannah, charged with receipt of a firearm while under indictment, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, and being a drug user in possession of firearms;
 
John Young, Jr., 26, of Savannah, charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
 
Timothy Kendall Stewart, 30, of Savannah, charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
 
Eric Brown, 39, of Savannah, charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
 
Robert Anthony Frazier, 35, of Savannah, charged with possession of firearms by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, ecstasy, and marijuana and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime;
 
Daryl Jackson, 40, of Savannah, charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
 
Dominick Jackson, 33, of Savannah, charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute ecstasy and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and,

 

Kevin Reevey, 32, of Savannah, charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

 

Acting U. S. Attorney James Durham said, “Earlier this year, Attorney General Jeff Sessions instructed U. S. Attorney’s Offices to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in our communities, and, if the decision is made to pursue federal charges, to utilize the substantial tools available under federal law to prosecute those offenders.  We’re working closely with SCMPD and the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office on a number of fronts to address violent crime problems in Savannah.  The indictments returned last week aren’t the first federal indictments and they certainly won’t be the last, as we work together to take back this great city from those spreading violence and fear.” 

 

All federal defendants charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  However, any defendant who has at least three prior violent felonies or serious drug offenses will face a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years in prison.  Additionally, defendants who possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking face a consecutive sentence of at least 5 years in prison.  Parole has been abolished in the federal system.

 

Acting U. S. Attorney Durham emphasized that indictments are only accusations and are not evidence of guilt.  Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

Assistant United States Attorneys Carlton R. Bourne, Jr., Tania D. Groover, Marcela C. Mateo, Bradford C. Patrick and Jennifer G. Solari are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the United States. 

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Atlanta Field Division