Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

VALDOSTA, Ga. - A South Georgia man with prior drug convictions was sentenced to prison after police found him illegally in possession of a firearm following a traffic stop.

Cedric Jerome Maxwell, 49, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve 230 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on Feb. 26. Maxwell pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Nov. 4, 2025. There is no parole in the federal system.

"It is illegal for felony offenders to possess a firearm. Our office will seek federal prosecution against armed repeat offenders who continue to commit crimes in the Middle District of Georgia," said U.S. Attorney William R. "Will" Keyes. "We are thankful to our law enforcement partners for their collaboration to hold convicted felons accountable for breaking the law and working to make our communities safer for everyone."

"The illegal possession of firearms by repeat offenders poses a threat to our neighborhoods. The ATF stands firm in its mission to deny criminals access to firearms, partnering with local law enforcement to ensure justice is served," said ATF Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.

"We are thankful for the relationships we maintain with federal, state and local law enforcement to help get repeat criminals with guns off the streets and hold them accountable," said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk.

According to court documents and statements referenced in court, the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Maxwell for failure to maintain laneon June 2, 2022. The investigator smelled marijuana and conducted a legal search of the vehicle. Inside the middle console, investigators found bundles of cash, a blue zip pouch containing cocaine, some red and blue pills that tested positive for methamphetamine and a .40 caliber firearm. Investigators also found marijuana in the back seat. Maxwell has three prior felony drug convictions. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels is prosecuting the case for the Government.