Michael Levant Williams, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Georgia 2024
SAVANNAH, GA - Michael Levant Williams, 36, of Savannah, has been sentenced to 110 months in federal prison for illegally carrying a gun, announced Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Williams was found guilty in March after a two-day trial when the jury took just 15 minutes to reach a verdict. Following his prison sentence, Williams must also serve three years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Michael Williams ludicrously claims that the laws of the United States don’t apply to him,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “His phony legal status won’t keep him from being held accountable for violating those laws, and his sentence should warn any other play-acting ‘sovereign citizens’ to abandon such legalistic charades.”
Williams had a previous federal felony conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances. He was arrested by Savannah Police officers on November 22, 2018, for a traffic violation. During a subsequent search of his vehicle, officers recovered a firearm. As a convicted felon, Williams is prohibited from possessing weapons.
After his arrest, and during subsequent legal proceedings, Williams acted as his own attorney and claimed to be a “sovereign citizen” who was immune from the law. This case represents the second time this year in the Southern District in which a defendant has asserted the claim that “sovereign citizen” status shielded him from prosecution.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Bearden and Karl Knoche. “This case involves an illegally possessed firearm in the hands of a criminal,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “It demonstrates the cooperation that exists between Savannah Police Department and ATF.”
Michael Levant Williams, 36, of Savannah, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Williams had a previous federal felony conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances. He was arrested on November 22, 2018, for a traffic violation, and a firearm was recovered during the search of his vehicle. Williams must serve 110 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case is a warning to any other individuals who claim to be “sovereign citizens” and believe they are exempt from obeying the law. Williams’ sentence serves as a reminder that such claims of immunity will not keep individuals from being held accountable for violating the law.
Defendant: Michael Levant Williams
Criminal Charges: Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
City and State: Savannah, GA
Date: March (sentencing), November 22, 2018 (arrest)
Sentence or Outcome: 110 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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