Janecia Green, Aiding Escape, Georgia 2023

Macon Woman Who Assisted in Bibb County Jail Break Sentenced to Prison

A Macon resident who assisted a convicted felon and others to escape the Bibb County LEC in 2023 was sentenced to prison today.

Janecia Green, 31, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on Oct. 16, three times more than the top of Green’s federal sentencing guidelines range. There is no parole in the federal system.

"Janecia Green put our entire community at risk when she chose to help Johnifer Barnwell and several other dangerous convicted felons escape from the Bibb County Jail," said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. "This sentencing illustrates the serious consequences facing those who help criminals evade justice."

According to court documents, Barnwell was tried and convicted on Oct. 2, 2023, of armed drug trafficking and was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) to await sentencing. Barnwell was housed at the Bibb County LEC, a facility contracted by USMS to house federal inmates.

Barnwell escaped from the Bibb County LEC on Oct. 16, with the assistance of several individuals, including Green. Green purchased a four-pound mallet and a Mayhew Guardian 2-3/4×9" Handguard Electrician Chisel from Home Depot on Oct. 13, 2023. She gave the items to Christian "Twin" Williams, an associate of Barnwell’s, who arranged to smuggle them inside the Bibb County LEC perimeter. The mallet and chisel were then used to create an opening in the jail wall, and Barnwell and three other prisoners escaped.

Barnwell was captured in Augusta, Georgia, on Nov. 12, 2023, by FBI and Bibb County Sheriff’s Office deputies. He was alone in the house and was allegedly in possession of an AK-47 rifle with a loaded magazine; a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with 14 rounds; a .45 caliber pistol with a loaded magazine; an extended capacity magazine; a drum magazine; and 40 kilograms of suspected narcotics, the results of which are pending the completion of laboratory testing.

The case was investigated by FBI, USMS, and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

Janecia Green’s sentence is a result of her involvement in the escape of convicted felon Johnifer Barnwell, who was being held at the Bibb County LEC. Barnwell was found to be in possession of a large quantity of narcotics, including over 23,000 grams of methamphetamine and over 3,200 grams of fentanyl.

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