Miller County Sheriff Shane Rathel, 42, was booked into federal custody Monday after FBI agents arrested him at the Albany FBI office on charges of selling two stolen firearms. The arrest marks a stunning fall for a lawman sworn to uphold the law, now accused of trafficking in weapons pulled from criminal investigations.
According to a criminal complaint filed in the Middle District of Georgia, Rathel knowingly sold firearms that had been seized during official police operations—guns that should have remained in evidence, not in the hands of the public. The transaction, detailed in a supporting affidavit, allegedly turned stolen property into personal profit, undermining the very foundation of law enforcement accountability.
United States Attorney G. F. “Pete” Peterman, III announced the arrest on October 28, 2016, emphasizing that while the complaint is only an allegation, the evidence under review points to a breach of public trust at the highest level of local law enforcement. Sheriff Rathel is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, Rathel faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, on each count. The dual charges compound the severity of the case, signaling federal prosecutors’ intent to make an example of a public official who allegedly abused his power for personal gain.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Albany office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, reflecting the seriousness with which federal and state authorities are treating the allegations. Assistant United States Attorney Alan Dasher is leading the prosecution.
For further information, inquiries should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603. The complaint and supporting affidavit have been filed and are available to the public.
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