Last of Group of Griffin Unlicensed Gun Dealers Sentenced

NEWNAN, Ga. - Tony Anthony Goodman has been sentenced on charges of dealing firearms without a license, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of sawed off shotguns, and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and the drug commonly known as “Molly.”

“Goodman repeatedly broke the law by possessing and distributing drugs and firearms, even after having been convicted of a felony on a previous occasion,” said U. S. Attorney John Horn.  “Guns that are trafficked illegally often turn up in other criminal offenses and place citizens and police alike in danger.”

“The criminal history of the defendant, Tony Goodman, shows a complete and utter disregard for the lives of others residing in our community,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge James Deir.  “ATF will continue to work with our state and local partners to protect the public by investigating and prosecuting violent habitual criminals who unlawfully use firearms to terrorize our communities and reduce our overall quality of life.”     

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: Goodman had at least eight prior felony convictions between 1984 and 1997 on charges including forgery, drug dealing, burglary, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  From 1997 until he was paroled in 2012 Goodman was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections.  Between January and February, 2015, Goodman sold twelve separate firearms to an undercover ATF officer.  At the time of his arrest on March 18, 2015, Goodman was found in possession of two additional firearms along with various narcotics packaged for distribution. 

Goodman was originally indicted on March 4, 2015, along with co-defendants David Combs, Demetrice Coggins, and Shedrick Howard.  Howard pled guilty to four counts of being a felon in possession of 10 separate firearms and was sentenced to eight years, three months in federal prison on October 13, 2015.  Combs pled guilty to two separate counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and was sentenced on January 7, 2016, to two years, ten months in federal prison.  Coggins pled guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced on September 22, 2015, to one year and a day in federal prison.

Tony Anthony Goodman, 51, of Griffin, Georgia, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr., to 17 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Goodman was found guilty after a bench trial presided over by Judge Batten on May 9, 2016.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant United States Attorney Matthew S. Carrico prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.