Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man with a long history of felony arrests and convictions has been sentenced to federal prison after his conviction for possessing a semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine.

 

United States District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2018, sentenced Savannah resident Darryl Washington, 34, to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system, and upon release, he will be placed on court supervision for an additional 5 years. 

 

Mr. Washington was arrested March 1, 2017, when Savannah Police Department officers responded to a complaint that a man was waving a long gun at people in the area of West 32nd and Jefferson streets. As outlined in court records and public documents, officers detained Mr. Washington and later seized a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine containing 23 rounds of ammunition. As a convicted felon, Mr. Washington was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition. Felons, drug users, illegal aliens, dishonorably discharged individuals, and others, are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition. 

 

Mr. Washington was no stranger to the criminal justice system, starting with arrests as a young teenager for burglary, trafficking cocaine and criminal trespass. As an adult, his convictions included obstructing justice, dispensing cocaine, battery of a police officer, and multiple convictions for terroristic threats. Those convictions included threatening to take an officer’s gun and shoot him with it; threatening – after his release from prison – to get his “chopper and start chopping people up”; and threatening to burn down an apartment complex.

 

“The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are not going to tolerate felons possessing firearms,” said Southern District U. S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “We are going to prosecute felons who possess firearms with extreme vigor. Let this 15-year sentence serve as a warning to others felons who may consider having a gun: Don’t. Put the guns down, or we will lock you up for as long as possible.”

 

“Felons in possession of guns is one of this department’s highest priorities,” said Savannah Police Chief Mark Revenew. “In an effort to stop violence in our community, Savannah Police Department will continue to partner with our federal colleagues to ensure these offenders receive the stiffest sentence available.”

 

This case was investigated and prosecuted under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN is a team of local and federal law enforcement entities devoted to making neighborhoods safe again. 

 

This case was investigated by the Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Marcela Mateo and Greg Gilluly. 

 

For any questions, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.