Convicted Felon Guilty of Illegally Possessing Gun, Drugs in Macon
Defendant Wanted for Aggravated Assault, Probation Violation in Two Counties at Arrest
MACON, Ga. – A federal jury convicted a Georgia man with a criminal history for illegally possessing a firearm and attempting to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine in Central Georgia resulting from a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation.
“Repeat offenders who possess illegal drugs and firearms pose a serious threat to our communities,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This conviction reflects the commitment of DEA and our law enforcement partners to work together, disrupt criminal activity, and ensure those who repeatedly break the law are held accountable.”
“Armed repeat offenders who threaten public safety will be brought to justice in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “This case highlights the strong partnership between federal and local law enforcement to quickly apprehend and bring to justice convicted felons with guns who continually violate the law.”
“This conviction sends a clear message that those who bring illegal drugs and firearms into our community will be held accountable. Every gun and quantity of dangerous drugs we remove from the streets represents an opportunity to prevent another crime, another tragedy, and another family from being harmed,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis. “I’m proud of the work of our Special Investigative Unit and grateful for the strong partnership we share with our federal and local law enforcement partners. By working together, we are not only enforcing the law—we are protecting lives and helping make our community safer for everyone.”
Jason Ronald Harvey, 53, of Laurens County, Georgia, was found guilty of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Harvey faces a maximum of life in prison.
The trial began on Monday, September 14, and concluded on Tuesday, September 15, before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell in Macon. The Court will schedule the sentencing hearing for a later date. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to the filed indictment, court documents, and statements made in court, investigators received information from a confidential source on July 31, 2024, that Harvey was at the Super 8 Motel on Chambers Road in Macon, with methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Harvey had outstanding arrest warrants for aggravated assault from Laurens County and for probation violation from Henry County.
Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance and located Harvey at Walmart on Harrison Road in Macon. Investigators arrested Harvey as he exited the store and took him into custody. At his arrest, Harvey was in possession of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and a handgun. Harvey has a prior felony drug conviction in Georgia; it is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Special Investigative Unit (SIU), and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Morris and Monica Brown are prosecuting the case for the Government. ###
