Three repeat offenders from South Georgia were locked up today, sentenced to significant prison terms for firearm offenses, as a result of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force's investigations. Among them, Demetris Gervone Bellamy, a 32-year-old from Ray City, received a hefty 260-month sentence along with five years of supervised release. Bellamy's rap sheet included convictions for illegal firearm possession, meth trafficking, and using a gun during a drug trafficking crime.
Joining Bellamy in sentencing, Joshua Granger, 35, from Orlando, Florida, and Shi-Young Lamar Sharper, 39, of Valdosta, Georgia, were each handed down 120-month prison sentences followed by three years of supervised release. Granger was nabbed for illegal firearm possession by a felon, an offense similar to that which landed Sharper back inside. Despite the hefty sentences handed down, the community can breathe a bit easier with these habitual lawbreakers behind bars.
The cases were heard and sentences handed down by U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson at the courthouse in Macon. "Our office is focused on reducing crime in our communities; holding repeat and violent offenders accountable is one part of a combined community and law enforcement effort to address violent crime through Project Safe Neighborhoods," U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary was quoted saying in a press release.
The success of these convictions was attributed to the strong multi-jurisdictional partnerships among various branches of law enforcement. "We are grateful for all the hard work by our partners that allowed these repeat offenders to be removed from the streets before they could commit any worse crimes," declared Rich Bilson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Valdosta office. Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk chimed in on the teamwork, stating, "The federal, state and local collaboration through Project Safe Neighborhoods helps us get violent, repeat criminals off the streets. We are thankful for this continuing partnership." The detailed cases against Bellamy and Granger were investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, while the Sharper case also involved the FBI.
The firm hand of justice was administered by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hannah Couch and Criminal Chief Leah McEwen in the Bellamy and Granger cases, whereas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Daniels and Sonja Profit tackled the Sharper case. These cases were prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice initiative which aims to rope in community stakeholders to address violent crimes with comprehensive solutions. For more information on each individual case, links have been provided by the DOJ: for Bellamy’s, Granger's, and Sharper's cases respectively.
