A Savannah man has been convicted on federal ammunition charges following an incident from October 2021. According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia, Charlie Sapp, 58, faced a two-day trial in U.S. District Court and was found guilty of Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person.
The conviction brings with it a potential 10-year prison sentence, to be followed by a supervised release—there is no parole in the federal system. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Sapp pointed a firearm and fired at another individual on October 8, 2021. Two 9mm Luger shell casings were recovered at the scene by Savannah Police Department officers. Furthermore, an expert from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives established that these casings did not originate from within the state, thus tingeing Sapp's actions with federal consequence. Sapp was barred from possessing ammunition due to previous felony convictions.
ATF Acting ASAC Robert Davis commended the conviction stating, "Our commitment to public safety is unwavering. The prosecution of individuals who unlawfully possess firearms and ammunition is critical in our efforts to reduce gun violence in our communities." Similarly, Savannah Chief of Police Lenny B. Gunther cited the outcome as a collective win for law enforcement, particularly highlighting the ATF's contributions to the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration, disrupting cartels, and curbing violent crime. It falls under the collaborative law enforcement program Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which been instrumental in reducing violent crime across neighborhoods. The PSN effort has brought together various levels of law enforcement to tackle these pressing issues more effectively.
The federal prosecution of Sapp was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia R. Jonese and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura, with the investigative teamwork of the ATF and Savannah Police Department. Despite a prior trial in November 2022 that did not result in a conviction, the federal charges Sapp now faces underscore the ongoing battle against gun violence and the steadfast pursuit of justice within the legal framework.
