Fredrick Crawford, a 34-year-old Atlanta man with a criminal history that includes child molestation, robbery, and aggravated stalking, has been sentenced in the federal system for unlawfully possessing a firearm and impersonating a police officer. This sentence came after an incident at an Atlanta gas station where he threatened customers while armed and clad in a fraudulent "Fugitive Task Force" uniform. "If a real officer had not caught this armed felon pretending to be a cop, someone could have been seriously injured,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, in a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office Northern District of Georgia.
Having been spotted by an off-duty APD sergeant who was buying fuel, Fredrick Crawford, managed to raise suspicion due to the conduct which seemed inconsistent with a legitimate officer, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The sergeant's instincts led to a confrontation and subsequent chase when Crawford attempted to flee upon noticing approaching marked APD vehicles, during which he tossed away the firearm.
After his capture, it was discovered that due to Crawford's prior convictions, he was barred from firearm possession. Crawford was initially prosecuted in Fulton County and recommended a comparatively meager nine-month sentence. The Atlanta Police Department urged for federal prosecution, seeking a more severe penalty for what U.S. Attorney Hertzberg described as a "violent recidivist."
U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen answered this call and sentenced Crawford to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and threw a protective cloak of justice over the community he once threatened with his actions. This case was the result of a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Atlanta Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas L. Evert and Chloe Cobb Smith leading the prosecution. In their pursuit, the ATF stressed the high stakes, with Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd saying, "Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a serious crime that undermines public trust and safety," as per the U.S. Attorney's Office's report.
The successful apprehension and subsequent conviction of Crawford also plays into the larger scheme of Operation Take Back America. This nationwide initiative aims to combine the Department of Justice's resources to tackle illegal immigration, disband cartels, and shield communities from violent crime. For readers seeking further information, the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office is reachable via email at [email protected] or by phone at (404) 581-6016.
