First Round of Defendants Sentenced in ATF-Atlanta Undercover Investigation

Prison Terms Handed Down in Northern Judicial District of Georgia for Career Criminals

ATLANTA, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Several Atlanta residents were recently sentenced to serve time after being convicted on varying federal firearms and narcotic related charges, according to information received from agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). These sentences are a result of an ATF initiated undercover operation, called "ATL Blaze."  Undercover agents placed themselves in positions ultimately putting the word out that they were interested in buying firearms and drugs from the criminal element. The case yielded 257 handguns, 60 rifles, 46 shotguns, and 10 short-barreled "sawed-off" shotguns taken off the streets of Atlanta.  Forty-nine defendants were indicted on charges ranging from conspiring to commit a home robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, possession of a stolen firearm, unlawful dealing in firearms without a license, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and aggravated identity theft.  The case was investigated by ATF Atlanta Field Division in conjunction with the Atlanta Police Department (APD).

Ronrico Sims, 31, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and 36 months supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. Wednesday.  Sims pleaded guilty on Nov. 3, 2011 to being a felon in possession of a firearm.          

Denellion Daughtery, 28, received a sentence of 151 months in federal prison followed by 36 months of supervised release from U.S. District Court Judge Steve C. Jones.  Jackson pleaded guilty to firearm and narcotics charges on Oct. 4, 2011.        

Antonio Jamal Davis, 26, pleaded guilty on Oct. 27, 2011, to firearm charges. On Jan. 6, Davis was sentenced to serve 37 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons followed by 36 months supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. 

Omari Troy, 25, was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison and 36 months supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Steve C. Jones on Nov. 29, 2011. Troy pleaded guilty on Sept. 27, 2011 to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Ross Harris, 22, pleaded guilty on Sept. 9, 2011, to firearm charges. On Nov. 29, 2011, Harris was sentenced to serve 18 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons followed by 36 months supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Steve C. Jones. 

Sigmund Jackson, 32, received a sentence of 12 months in federal prison followed by 36 months of supervised release from U.S. District Court Judge Steve C. Jones.  Jackson pleaded guilty to firearm charges on Sept. 8, 2011.

Matelezee Kromah, 24, pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2011, to firearm charges. On Nov. 22, 2011, Kromah was sentenced to serve 48 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons followed by 36 months supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. 

"These complex, long-term investigations demonstrate the creativity and hard work our agents employ to attack and reduce violent crime in Atlanta," said Special Agent in Charge Scott Sweetow.  "These sentences received from the courts send a clear message of deterrence to those individuals who would contemplate performing any criminal mischief in the Northern Judicial District of Georgia.  This case is a result of a strong collaborative effort among federal, state and local law enforcement. By working together as a cohesive unit, we were able to identify and apprehend individuals participating in a variety of criminal activities."
                          

More information about ATF is available at www.atf.gov.

Contact: Special Agent Richard Coes, PIO 
Cell: (404) 931-0988  

SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives