Georgia Man Sentenced for Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Failure to Appear
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Cornelia, Georgia, man convicted of Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Failure to Appear was sentenced on May 10, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Jamecus Lushawn Hodges, age 42, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison on the firearm offense and 30 months in federal prison on the failure to appear offense, to run consecutive for a total of 120 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Hodges was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 13, 2019, and again on November 10, 2020. He pled guilty in both cases on May 10, 2021.
The firearm conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on December 8, 2018. During a traffic stop on Interstate 90, a South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper found marijuana, cocaine, and a stolen firearm in Hodges vehicle. Hodges became uncooperative and combative and ran into the oncoming lane of traffic, stalling traffic on the interstate, prior to being taken into custody. Hodges was eventually released on bond and entered into a plea agreement relating to the traffic stop. Hodges then knowingly failed to appear for his change of plea and sentencing on October 5, 2020. He was charged with failure to appear in November 2020 and taken into federal custody on March 19, 2021, in Georgia.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Hodges was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
