WR man sentenced following ATF investigation

MACON, Ga. — On Sept. 6, a Warner Robins man was sentenced after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The defendant, identified as 33-year-old Deonta Lowe, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, then three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the charge. U.S. District Judge Tilman “Tripp” Self, III handed down the sentence at the U.S. Courthouse in Macon and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom prosecuted the case.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) investigated.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), on June 17, 2021, federal agents searched Lowe’s trap house in Macon and his vehicle that was at the property. Agents found $20,000 in cash, counterfeit currency, digital scales and dozens of rounds of ammunition.

In his vehicle, they found a semi-automatic pistol. Lowe’s codefendant said that he had stolen the gun from her and refused to give it back after she requested that he return it.

Lowe was not at the house during the search and was arrested later. Court documents revealed that during questioning, he admitted that he had the firearm and that it had been in his possession for several days.

Lowe also admitted that he knew he was previously convicted. In 2010, he was convicted in Houston County for Possession of Cocaine, and in 2011 he was convicted in Bibb County for Possession of Cocaine.

Court documents also revealed that Lowe had also tried to coerce witnesses into not cooperating with the courts. In February of 2022, he told a witness to ignore subpoena requests and government attempts to make contact with the witness.

Also in February of 2022, he had attempted to convince his codefendant to falsely testify at his federal trial. He fed her facts that he wanted her to testify to, mainly that she had stayed over the night before the search was executed and left the firearm at the trap house. Neither of those claims was true.

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, a DOJ initiative that brings together law enforcement and the community, including the Middle District of Georgia’s U.S. Attorney’s office in Macon. In May of 2021, the DOJ launched a violent crime reduction plan meant to strengthen the program based on the principles of fostering trust and legitimacy in the community, supporting organizations that help prevent violence from occurring as well as setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring results.

U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary reflected on the sentencing and said the sentence reflects the crime.

“It was illegal for a multiple-time felon like Mr. Lowe to possess a gun, but he only compounded his problems by them trying to coerce people to alter and even falsify their testimony at his trial,” Leary said. “This sentence reflects the serious consequences of his decisions to undermine both neighborhood safety as well as the integrity of the criminal justice system.”

ATF Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka also explained the effect this case and the sentencing will have on the community.

“The law-abiding citizens of this community are safer because of this sentence, which will ensure the incarceration of a dangerous criminal and contribute to the restoration of order and peace to this area,” Kolodka said.

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