A convicted felon with a list of priors as long as his rap sheet just got slapped with a 165-month sentence for illegally packing heat during a wild police chase, according to authorities.
Kendrick Terrell Pryor, 41, was handed the stiff sentence on February 1 after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in an attempt to absolutely sidestep any chance of parole. The high-speed chase, which led Pryor to dangerously barrel through a residential neighborhood in Valdosta at speeds hitting 120 mph, ended with law enforcement executing a PIT maneuver to bring his wild run to a halt, officials said.
Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Sands threw the book at Pryor, with U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary pulling no punches in his condemnation. "Felons who consistently demonstrate a total disregard for the law and are found in possession of deadly weapons will find their cases getting federal attention," Leary said, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office press release. "Our office is working alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement to hold repeat offenders accountable."
Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka also weighed in, stating, "Convicted felons cannot possess guns and will face serious consequences for having them." He emphasized Pryor's sentence as a measure to "remove him from the community for a long time, where he will not be able to harm others."
The chase, which occurred on July 3, 2022, began when deputies tried to pull Pryor over for suspected impaired driving. The deputies then discovered an arsenal in Pryor's car, including a .22 caliber firearm and a 9mm handgun, along with a variety of narcotics.
Pryor's prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime. The case, after a joint investigation by the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office and ATF, was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels.
