Fredrick Crawford, a convicted felon with prior offenses including child molestation, robbery, and stalking, has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm while impersonating a police officer at an Atlanta gas station. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen and includes three years of supervised release following imprisonment.
According to information presented in court, on April 12, 2024, an off-duty Atlanta Police Department sergeant noticed Crawford at a gas station wearing a uniform labeled “Fugitive Task Force.” Crawford claimed to be a police officer and threatened customers with tickets while arguing with them. The sergeant grew suspicious and called for backup from two marked APD vehicles. As officers approached, Crawford fled the scene and discarded his firearm but was apprehended shortly after.
Upon arrest, authorities discovered that Crawford was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his previous felony convictions. His criminal history includes possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, child molestation, family violence battery, aggravated stalking, and robbery by force.
Initially prosecuted in Fulton County with a recommended nine-month sentence from the district attorney’s office, the Atlanta Police Department sought federal prosecution to secure a longer sentence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from local police.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated: “If a real officer had not caught this armed felon pretending to be a cop, someone could have been seriously injured. Thanks to my office’s close partnership with the Atlanta Police Department, which referred this case for federal prosecution, the community is safer because Crawford is back in prison, where he belongs.”
ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd commented: “Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a serious crime that undermines public trust and safety. Fredrick Crawford’s actions not only endangered the lives of innocent citizens but also posed a significant risk to legitimate law enforcement efforts. The ATF is committed to working alongside our partners to ensure that individuals who engage in such reckless behavior are held accountable.”
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum added: “This case underscores the vigilance and professionalism of our officers, even when off duty. An armed felon impersonating a police officer poses a grave threat to public safety and to the integrity of law enforcement. Thanks to the quick actions of our sergeant and the coordinated response that followed, a dangerous individual was taken off the streets.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas L. Evert and Chloe Cobb Smith prosecuted the case as part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing violent crime and related threats.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia serves as the principal federal law enforcement agency in its region https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga, managing both criminal prosecutions and civil cases on behalf of millions of residents across north Georgia https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. The office works closely with other agencies on issues ranging from terrorism to drug trafficking https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
For more information about this case or other activities by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia—which maintains its main office in Atlanta—visit their official website.
