Three men from Columbus with prior criminal convictions were sentenced to federal prison in separate cases related to Operation Take Back America, according to a May 6 announcement by the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
The sentencing of Travis Dwayne Broadnax, Johnny Foster III, and Clifford E. Thompson reflects ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address gun-related offenses among repeat offenders. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce violent crime and illegal firearm possession in the region.
Travis Dwayne Broadnax, age 40, received a sentence of 137 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Johnny Foster III, age 47, was sentenced to 87 months in prison with four years supervised release on similar charges. Clifford E. Thompson, age 59, was given a sentence of 188 months imprisonment and three years supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. All sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge Clay Land.
“Convicted felons with guns will find their criminal cases in federal court, where there is no parole,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “We are working alongside law enforcement at every level to protect our communities and ensure armed repeat offenders are brought to justice.” Joseph Waller, Resident Agent in Charge at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), said: “Criminals must understand that there are serious repercussions for the illegal possession of firearms and that ATF and our law enforcement partners will contribute all necessary time and effort to ensure criminals are brought to justice.”
According to court documents referenced in each case: Broadnax led officers on a high-speed chase before being apprehended with a pistol; Foster attempted escape during a traffic stop but was found carrying drugs packaged for sale along with an illegal firearm; Thompson was stopped for not wearing his seat belt when officers discovered drugs and a semi-automatic pistol hidden under his seat.
“These cases reflect the strength of our partnerships at every level of law enforcement,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “By working together, we are holding repeat offenders accountable and taking illegal firearms off the streets.” Other officials echoed this sentiment regarding collaboration among agencies.
Operation Take Back America brings together resources from multiple Department of Justice initiatives such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated these cases alongside local agencies including Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia prosecutes federal crimes such as drug trafficking and violent offenses while managing civil litigation on behalf of the United States government across central Georgia’s approximately 25,471-square-mile area—including cities like Macon, Albany and Columbus—and serves about two million residents across seventy counties through facilities located within those cities according to the official website.
