28-01-2025
Columbus felon sentenced to prison for illegally owning weapon
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — A Columbus man, who the U.S Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia says has a violent criminal history in the city, was sentenced to over 13 years in prison for illegally owning a firearm.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Christopher Gilliam, 36, was sentenced to 162 months in prison on Jan. 28 followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Clay Land.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says Gilliam is known to be a member of the Gangster Disciples. Gilliam pled guilty to to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon back on Oct. 29, 2024. The office adds it is illegal for convicted felons to possess a firearm.
'Violent convicted felons caught illegally with firearms in the Middle District of Georgia will find their cases in federal court,' says Shanelle Booker, Acting U.S. Attorney. 'This case is another example of the kind of effective law enforcement partnerships helping us track down and hold the most dangerous repeat offenders accountable.'
Court documents say Gilliam was wanted for aggravated assault when officers tracked him to his girlfriend's home back on July 21, 2023. At the time, Gilliam was arrested and authorities found a stolen 9mm semiautomatic pistol with a laser and a loaded 15-round magazine in plain sight.
'We will continue to work with our federal partners to promote safer neighborhoods and communities,' says Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman.
The case was investigated by the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It was also a part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which aims to help make neighborhoods safer by reducing violent crimes in communities.
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