⏱ 2 min read
Reginald Pierce, a twice-convicted felon, was dealing fentanyl and other drugs in Atlanta, Georgia, while armed with a fully automatic machine gun. On May 30, 2023, a Fulton County Sheriff’s Office investigator stopped a vehicle in which Pierce was a passenger. Pierce attempted to flee and tackled the investigator, but was apprehended. The stop revealed a stash of 469 fentanyl pills, $10,020 in cash, and other illicit substances.
Pierce’s arrest was the result of a joint effort by federal and local law enforcement, including the ATF and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation linked the machine gun found on Pierce to a prior drive-by shooting in East Point, Georgia. Pierce’s history of violent crime, including convictions for armed robbery and gang-related aggravated assault, made him a high-priority target for authorities.
The sentencing of Reginald Pierce to 15 years in federal prison is a significant blow to the fentanyl trade in Atlanta. U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg praised the efforts of law enforcement, stating that Pierce’s sentence would make the community safer. The case highlights the dangers of fentanyl trafficking and the importance of cooperation between local and federal agencies in combating the crisis.
The use of a fully automatic machine gun by Pierce escalated the danger of his crimes, and law enforcement officials warned that such weapons have no place in the community. The investigation and sentencing of Pierce demonstrate the commitment of authorities to prosecuting violent offenders and reducing the threat of fentanyl in Atlanta.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Georgia
- Location: GA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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