Eighteen area defendants, including the father of a Grovetown 4-year-old who fatally shot herself with his illegal machine gun face time in federal prison.
Newly-returned indictments in the Southern District of Georgia include the charges.
“In addition to taking guns out of the hands of convicted felons, these cases also demonstrate the increased danger posed by the growing number of illegal machine guns on the streets,” said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the southern district.
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Those indicted during the May term include:
- Wesley Earl Wilson, 33, of Thomson, is charged with conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Kenyatta Dunn Nero, 40, Brodrick Kyle Merritt, 42, Andrey Denorris Blockett, 37, and Deleon Alexander Jackson, 23, all of Augusta, are charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Defendants recently adjudicated on federal firearms charges include:
- Christopher David Baskett, 46, of Augusta, was sentenced to 30 months after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Jodarrius Vaughner, 20, of Wrens, was sentenced to 24 months after pleading guilty to illegal possession of a machine gun. He also faces state charges of murder and aggravated assault
- Hunter W. Taylor, 26, of Hephzibah, was sentenced to 40 months after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Daveon Daniels, 25, of Grovetown, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to illegal possession of a machine gun. Columbia County deputies investigating the accidental fatal shooting of a 4-year-old girl found the gun belonged to Daniels
- Phillip Smith, 49, of Augusta, and Brian Hilliard, 40, of Augusta, both await sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy with intent to possess meth and conspiracy to distribute meth, as well as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- In the same case, USA vs. Walters et al, seven other co-defendants await sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy with intent to possess meth and conspiracy to distribute meth: Edward Jake Walters, 29, and Destiny Poole, 23, of Grovetown, Glen Taylor, 45, of Beech Island, Dustin Bayles, 36, and Joshua Wasden, 36, of Thomson, Linda Campbell, 53, of Augusta and Gary Holcomb, 59, of Martinez
