Validated gang member from Columbus sentenced to over 13 years in prison on gun charge
A validated gang member from Columbus has been sentenced to over 13 years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, the U.S. Department of Justice Middle District of Georgia announced Tuesday.
The DOJ said Christopher Gilliam, 36, of Columbus was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Clay Land to serve 162 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The DOJ said Gilliam is a validated member of the Gangster Disciples.
Gilliam pleaded guilty Oct. 29, 2024, to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the DOJ.
The DOJ said there is no parole in the federal system.
“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,” Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker said a news release.
“If you are bold enough to commit a crime involving a gun coupled with gang involvement, we will be courageous enough to arrest you for your crimes against others,” Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman said in the news release.
The DOJ release said, “According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Gilliam was wanted for an active outstanding arrest warrant for aggravated assault when law enforcement tracked him to his girlfriend’s residence in Columbus on July 21, 2023.”
The DOJ said Gilliam was taken into custody. Officers found a stolen 9-mm semiautomatic pistol in plain view, according to the DOJ release.
The DOJ said Gilliam has a criminal history, including prior convictions for aggravated assault.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, according to the DOJ.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just a program; it is a powerful, unyielding effort to dismantle violent criminal networks and rid our communities of those who bring harm. Through strategic enforcement and collaboration, we will ensure that violent offenders, like Gilliam, face justice in federal court,” ATF Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka said in the news release.