THIRD GEORGIA MAN SENTENCED FOR PHARMACY BURGLARY AND POSSESION OF STOLEN FIREARMS

Gulfport, MS - On July 16, 2026, a Riverdale, Georgia man was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment for his role in a pharmacy burglary and possession of stolen firearms.

According to documents and information presented to the court, Brian Garland, 35, and his two co-defendants, Glenn McDowell and Octavious Franklin, traveled from Georgia to Biloxi, Mississippi, where two of them broke into a pharmacy and stole multiple types of controlled substances, while the third acted as the getaway driver. In addition, they stole several firearms from the pharmacy before traveling back to Georgia.

Garland and his co-defendants were ultimately identified by law enforcement because in addition to the controlled substances and firearms, the defendants stole an old wallet belonging to the pharmacy owner. While on their way back to Georgia, Garland and his co-defendants attempted to use the pharmacy owner's bank/credit cards to purchase gas at a gas station in Alabama. But, the cards did not work. Instead, they used one of Garland's debit cards and then discarded the pharmacy owner's wallet.

A good Samaritan found the pharmacy owner's wallet, contacted the pharmacy owner, and made sure the wallet was returned to him. Within the wallet, the pharmacy owner found Garland's debit card. Surveillance footage from the gas station allowed law enforcement to identify Garland and his co-defendants. The footage also tied them to the pharmacy burglary based on their clothing. Finally, law enforcement officers were able to obtain electronic evidence from multiple cell phones that tied all of the defendants to the offenses.

McDowell was previously sentenced to 169 months imprisonment. Franklin was also sentenced to 169 months imprisonment. All the Defendants were also ordered to pay over $80,000.00 in restitution to the victims of the offense.

U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge, John Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Biloxi Police Department, investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case.