Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 23, 2008
Contact : Sue McKinney
FORMER POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED
Maxwell Wood, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced today that LARRY LIGHTNING, a former police officer with the City of Columbus, Georgia was sentenced on May 22, 2008, to a term of 66 months in federal prison on Count One and 66 months in federal prison on Count Two after he entered a plea of guilty to both counts. The sentences will run concurrent.
Count One charged Lightning with conspiring with other persons to distribute more than 5 grams of crack cocaine and Count Two charged Lightning with extortion by a public official. Lightning extorted $1,000 from a Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agent posing as a drug dealer.
Assistant United States Attorney Melvin E. Hyde prosecuted the case.
Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Ms. Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2602.
