Seven Augusta men face federal sentences of up to 10 years for being convicted felons in possession of guns.
The defendants were arrested by local law enforcement but the cases are being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. The collaborative effort with state and federal agencies has led to the prosecution of more than 800 defendants in the Southern District of Georgia over the last four years.
“A key factor in our fight against violent crime is to remove guns from the hands of those who are prohibited from possessing them – particularly convicted felons,” said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
There is no parole in the federal system. Recently sentenced were:
Horatio Trimane Bynes, 65, of Augusta. Bynes was sentenced to five years in prison and fined $2,500 after pleading guilty to possessing a gun in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Dequan Donte Payne, 31, of Augusta. Payne, who has prior convictions for armed robbery and child molestation, was sentenced to 110 months after Richmond County deputies found drugs and guns during a search of his residence.
Daquan Marquise Rolack, 25, of Grovetown. Rolack was sentenced to five years in prison and fined $1,500 after Richmond County deputies found him in possession of a pistol while trafficking marijuana.
Olajuwon Raheem Williams, 25, of Augusta. Williams was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Richmond County deputies arrested Williams, who has a prior armed robbery conviction, after he threatened to shoot up an ex-girlfriend’s home and fled while firing an AR-style pistol at an officer.
Awaiting sentencing for possessing a firearm by a convicted felon are:
Jared Tyrese Adger, 23, of Augusta. Deputies found Adger in possession of two guns during a traffic stop and he pleaded guilty to illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment.
William Beau Devore, 21, of Martinez. DeVore faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. Columbia County deputies arrested DeVore in January 2022 on suspicion of burglary and found he was in possession of three rifles and two shotguns.
Tyrone Dion Lyons Sr., 39, of Augusta. Richmond County deputies and U.S. Marshals found a gun in Lyons’ car while serving a warrant for his arrest in Gwinnett County.
Isaac Wilford Stewart, 23, of Augusta. Stewart, who has prior drug and burglary convictions, led Waynesboro police officers on a chase that resulted in a crash, after which officers found a pistol in his vehicle.
