Man Sentenced To 5 1/2 Years In Prison For Firearm And Drug Offense Following Dooly County Traffic Stops

United States Attorney G.F. “Pete” Peterman, III announces that Kenneth Wallace, age 44, of Hayneville, Georgia, was sentenced today to serve 5 ½ years in prison for possession with intent to distribute Methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  U.S. District Court Judge Marc T. Treadwell handed down the sentence in Macon.

Mr. Wallace entered a plea of guilty to the charges on February 18, 2016.  The facts stipulated in his plea agreement state that on February 1, 2015, Mr. Wallace’s vehicle was stopped by the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office after the Sheriff’s Office received information about suspicious vehicles in the area of the prison.  During the stop, Mr. Wallace gave officer’s permission to search his vehicle where they found a semi-automatic rifle.  Because Mr. Wallace had previously been convicted of a felony offense and was not allowed to possess a firearm, officers took him into custody.  While traveling to the jail, Mr. Wallace admitted that he had methamphetamine in his groin.  Upon arriving at the jail, officers seized what was later confirmed to be 6.95 grams of methamphetamine.  Mr. Wallace admitted that he intended to sell this methamphetamine.

On March 26, 2015, Mr. Wallace was again stopped by the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office.  This traffic stop was following a call regarding a domestic dispute.  Mr. Wallace spoke with officers about the dispute and gave officer’s permission to search his vehicle where they found a 12-gauge pump action shotgun with a shortened barrel and obliterated serial number.  After officers found the shotgun, Mr. Wallace fled the scene on foot. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Beth Howard prosecuted the case for the United States. 

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.