Jonathan Lamar Wooten, also known as “Chico,” pleaded guilty on April 9 to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands. Wooten, 53, of Thomasville, faces up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for the federal gun charge. The sentencing date will be determined by the court.
The case highlights efforts by federal authorities to address violent crime involving repeat offenders. U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes said, “Violent felons caught with guns will be prosecuted federally in the Middle District of Georgia, where penalties are tough and there is no parole.” Keyes added that his office is committed to enforcing federal gun laws and working with law enforcement partners.
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Wooten was allegedly involved in a bank shooting in Tallahassee, Florida on May 5, 2023. He now faces state charges there for attempted murder, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Authorities issued an alert for Wooten and described the Ford F-150 he was reportedly driving from the scene.
Deputies from Thomas County spotted the vehicle in Georgia and pursued it until Wooten fled on foot while carrying a firearm. Officers saw him discard a Glock handgun behind a building before he was apprehended nearby. Investigators determined that shell casings from the Tallahassee shooting matched the recovered Glock firearm.
Wooten has prior convictions for rape and kidnapping in Thomas County Superior Court; as such it is illegal for him to possess firearms under federal law.
The investigation involved cooperation between local deputies, the U.S. Marshals Service and Tallahassee Police Department’s Homicide Unit as part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative focused on combating violent crime.
