Career Offender Sentenced For Firearms Violations

G.F. Peterman, III, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced Richard Bynes, III, age 30, of Newton, Georgia was sentenced to 180 months (15 years) by the Honorable Leslie Abrams, United States District Court Judge, in Albany, Georgia after his guilty plea for Discharging a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Mr. Bynes was sentenced as a career offender based on his two prior bank robbery convictions in 2005.

He pled guilty on June 29, 2016. According to the plea agreement, on January 26, 2015, Camilla Police responded to an apartment complex regarding shots fired. A witness stated that Mr. Bynes, an alleged club owner from Baker County, had fired four shots into the air because a tenant known as “JuJu” owed him money. The person identified as “JuJu” told the police Mr. Bynes was angry because he owed him money for marijuana. GBI agents developed information about drug sales by Mr. Bynes and obtained a search warrant for his residence in Baker County, GA. During the search of the residence, the GBI agents uncovered $4,755 in currency, a drug ledger, two hand guns, one shotgun and a rifle, a set of digital scales, baggies, an antifreeze jug containing marijuana, and a white plastic bag containing a measuring cup and a metal whisk with cocaine residue.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Leah McEwen prosecuted the case on behalf of the Government.

Inquiries regarding this case should be directed to Pam Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at 478-752-3511.