Probationers Caught Breaking Into Cars In Macon Plead Guilty To Federal Firearm Charges

MACON, Ga. – Two armed probationers caught breaking into multiple vehicles in a Macon residential area admitted to their crimes and will be sentenced on April 1, 2020, announced Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Quenshon Travez Robinson, 23, and Deshae Amondai Floyd, 23, both of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to receive and possess stolen firearms before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. Robinson entered his guilty plea on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 and Floyd entered his guilty plea on Friday, January 10, 2020. Each defendant is facing a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Robinson and Floyd admitted that they broke into multiple cars in residential areas during the morning hours of Saturday, February 16, 2019. Bibb County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a citizen’s call reporting a break-in, and the deputies arrested the defendants as they attempted to flee from the scene. The men were caught with two stolen pistols and ammunition. At the time, Robinson was serving five years’ probation for Criminal Damage to Property in the Second Degree under the First Offender Act and Floyd was serving ten years’ probation for Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree under the First Offender Act.  As probationers under First Offender status, it is unlawful for them to possess firearms.

“Removing firearms from the hands of criminals who disrupt the peace and safety of our communities is a high priority for our office and our law enforcement partners, and we will prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “I want to commend the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office for quickly arresting these defendants and then partnering with ATF to stop them from potentially doing more harm with the guns they stole.”

“This case illustrates the commitment of our federal prosecutor’s work to assure that offenders are held responsible for their criminal deeds.  We can be grateful for the quick work of the Bibb deputies and the thorough follow up investigation by the sheriff’s office and ATF which ended with these hardened criminals entering a guilty plea for their actions,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

The case was investigated by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul McCommon is prosecuting the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.