Two Convicted Felons Admit Guilt In Separate Felony Gun Cases

ALBANY – Two defendants with lengthy criminal histories involved in separate felony gun cases in the Valdosta, Georgia area entered guilty pleas for their crimes this afternoon, announced Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Clifford Timothy Bradley, II, 38, of Valdosta, Georgia, and Paul A. Bradford, 48, of Lakeland, Georgia, entered guilty pleas to one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon before U.S. District Judge Louis Sands. Both defendants face a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine, or both. The defendants will be sentenced on October 24, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.

According to a statement of fact submitted by the Government, Mr. Bradley was pulled over for speeding in a Valdosta residential area on August 17, 2018. Mr. Bradley was taken into custody, and Lowndes County deputies discovered a loaded semi-automatic pistol in the center console. Mr. Bradley has three prior felony convictions in Lowndes County, including pleading guilty to a 2006 robbery for which he was imprisoned. Mr. Bradley admitted he knew at the time of his 2018 arrest that he was illegally in possession of a firearm.

According to a statement of fact submitted by the Government, Mr. Bradford was arrested at his home in Lakeland, Georgia on July 18, 2018 during the service of an arrest warrant for another individual living in his home. Deputies discovered a 12-gauge shotgun, and Mr. Bradford admitted that the firearm belonged to him, and that he was in possession of it illegally. Mr. Bradford had prior felony convictions in Lanier County Superior Court, including a 1990 Burglary and Theft by Taking conviction and a 1998 Statutory Rape conviction.

“Our office remains relentless in its pursuit to remove guns from the hands of convicted felons with violent criminal histories,” said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “We are working alongside law enforcement agencies across the Middle District to curb violent crime, and holding felons accountable for illegally possessing dangerous weapons is a common-sense approach to meeting our shared goal.”

Both cases were 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.

Mr. Bradley’s case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.  Mr. Bradford’s case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lanier and Berrien County Sheriff’s Offices. Both cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McCullers.

Questions concerning this case 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.