Stillwell Gets 9 Years for Illegal Gun Possession

ALBANY, GA – James L. Stillwell, 45, of Cordele, Georgia, will spend the next nine years (108 months) behind bars after being sentenced on Thursday, February 27, 2014, for illegally possessing a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge W. Louis Sands delivered the sentence in Albany, highlighting the seriousness of the offense and Stillwell’s history.

Stillwell pleaded guilty on November 15, 2013, to the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Court records reveal a pattern of reckless behavior. His arrest on November 17, 2012, by a Georgia Department of Natural Resources officer while deer hunting, wasn’t an isolated incident. The officer discovered Stillwell in possession of a rifle, despite his already checkered past.

But the hunting incident paled in comparison to a November 11, 2010, confrontation at Hubbard’s Salvage Yard in Crisp County. Deputies from the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a man threatening an employee with a gun. Stillwell, enraged that the salvage yard wouldn’t remove junk from his property, allegedly pulled a firearm and threatened to “blow him away.” A search of Stillwell’s vehicle yielded a revolver and two long barrel rifles. This prior conviction is what ultimately barred him from legally owning or possessing any firearms.

“Convicted felons are prohibited from having guns,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore. “In this case, not only did Mr. Stillwell unlawfully possess a firearm, he used it to threaten innocent people.” Moore’s statement underscores the danger posed by individuals who disregard gun laws and resort to violence. The case serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm while prohibited is a serious federal offense.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation, meticulously building the case against Stillwell. Assistant United States Attorney Jim Crane skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the nine-year sentence. This conviction demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of those who would misuse them.

Anyone with further questions regarding this case is directed to contact Pamela Lightsey at the United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2603. (Note: This press release was updated to correct an error in the original reporting.)