Previously convicted felon sentenced to federal prison for ammunition possession

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A previously convicted felon found in possession of ammunition faces years in prison after sentencing in federal court.

Terrell Polen, 37, of Augusta, was sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, said Margaret E. "Meg" Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. sentenced Polen to 52 months in prison and a $1,500 fine, followed by three years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

"Our office has a zero-tolerance approach for convicted felons possessing guns or ammunition, particularly while committing another felony," said U.S. Attorney Heap. "If you're prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition because of a history of committing crimes, we'll work with our law enforcement partners to hold those violators accountable."

As described in court records and testimony, Richmond County sheriff's deputies responded in November 2024 to a report of a man pointing a rifle and found Polen in possession of ammunition. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition, and Polen previously was convicted on state felony charges.

The case was investigated by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry W. Syms Jr.