Columbus Repeat Offenders Sentenced in Operation Take Back America Cases

COLUMBUS, Ga. - Three defendants, all with criminal histories, were sentenced to prison in separate Operation Take Back America investigations in the Columbus region.

Travis Dwayne Broadnax, 40, was sentenced to serve 137 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Feb. 4, 2026.

Johnny Foster, III, 47, was sentenced to serve 87 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Feb. 10, 2026.

Clifford E. Thompson, 59, was sentenced to serve 188 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Jan. 23, 2026.

The defendants are all from Columbus. U.S. District Judge Clay Land handed down the sentences on May 6. There is no parole in the federal system.

"Convicted felons with guns will find their criminal cases in federal court, where there is no parole," said U.S. Attorney William R. "Will" Keyes. "We are working alongside law enforcement at every level to protect our communities and ensure armed repeat offenders are brought to justice."

"Criminals must understand that there are serious repercussions for the illegal possession of firearms and that ATF and our law enforcement partners will contribute all necessary time and effort to ensure criminals are brought to justice," said ATF Resident Agent in Charge Joseph Waller.

"These cases reflect the strength of our partnerships at every level of law enforcement," said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "By working together, we are holding repeat offenders accountable and taking illegal firearms off the streets. Our shared goal is simple: protect our communities and prevent future violence before it happens."

"The hard work and dedication of law enforcement, along with the commitment of prosecutors to hold criminals accountable, helps make all Georgians safer," said Colonel William W. Hitchens, III, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

"We're not going to stop until the criminal behavior stops. Repeat violent offenders with guns increase the opportunities to commit additional violent crimes," said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. "We will continue to work through collaborative efforts to serve as a force multiplier to get guns out of the hands of violent offenders."

"Armed repeat offenders will not dictate the safety of this city. CPD, alongside our partners, will continue to identify, arrest and help prosecute those who choose violence and illegal firearms. These outcomes reflect accountability, not chance," said Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis.

According to court documents and statements referenced in the Broadnax case, a deputy with the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Broadnax on Macon Road on Aug. 22, 2024, which resulted in a high-speed chase and Broadnax crashing into a mailbox and tree, then fleeing on foot. Broadnax was quickly apprehended, and a pistol was found in the vehicle. In jail, Broadnax was recorded asking others to find someone who would claim ownership of the firearm, because he had too many gun charges. Later, Broadnax admitted the firearm belonged to him and that he purchased it from a Zohannon gang member the same night he was arrested. Broadnax has several prior felonies, including two convictions for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and felony obstruction of a police officer, along with prior convictions for theft, all out of Muscogee County, Georgia, Superior Court.

According to court documents and statements referenced in the Foster case, officers with the Columbus Police stopped a car for a traffic violation on Benning Drive on Feb. 27, 2025. Foster was a passenger in the backseat. Officers directed the occupants to step out of the car and sit on the curb. Foster then stood up and ran toward a nearby apartment complex but tripped and fell. He was detained, and Foster admitted he had a firearm in his pocket and that there were drugs in the rear passenger side of the vehicle, where he had been sitting. Officers found a loaded pistol in Foster's pocket, and quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana packaged for sale in small baggies in the backseat. Foster has a lengthy criminal history, including prior felony drug convictions in Georgia, including Muscogee County Superior Court.

According to court documents and statements referenced in the Thompson case, a Georgia Department of Public Safety Trooper stopped Thompson, who was driving his truck on Interstate 185-North in Harris County, Georgia, for not wearing a seat belt on Sept. 20, 2023. The trooper saw Thompson attempt to hide something under the driver's seat, and he was asked to step out of the vehicle. Thompson told the trooper it was marijuana, and there was nothing else in the truck. The trooper found a semi-automatic pistol under the driver's seat floor mat; a book bag filled with 107 grams of cocaine, as well as substances suspected to be marijuana and mushrooms; plus, clear bags and a scale behind the driver's side seat. Thompson also had $1,905. Thompson has three previous felony drug convictions in Muscogee County Superior Court.

It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system.

These cases are 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 (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the cases, with the FBI, the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Georgia Department of Public Safety handling the specific traffic stops. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tamara Jarrett and Rick Rettig prosecuted the cases for the Government.