Violent Repeat Felon Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

ROME, Ga. - Richard Cornell Brown, a three-time convicted felon, has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing a firearm located when police arrested him on rape and sodomy charges.

"Felons who possess firearms represent a very real danger to the community," said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. "Brown's actions demonstrate his utter disregard for the law, and the Court's substantial sentence ensures that he will pose no threat to our community for nearly a decade."

"Convicted felons in possession of a firearm can lead to dangerous consequences," said FBI Georgia Supervisory Senior Special Agent Mitchell Jackson of the Cartersville Resident Agency. "I want to thank our law enforcement partners for helping us hold repeat offenders accountable for their continued disregard of the law."

"This case is a prime example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work together. I am extremely proud of the teamwork and dedication demonstrated throughout this investigation. By combining our resources and expertise, we can bring violent criminals like Mr. Brown to justice and make our communities safer," said Paulding County Sheriff Ashley Henson. "Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, Mr. Brown will spend nearly the next decade behind bars, where he will no longer pose a threat to the citizens of Paulding County. We will continue working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure violent offenders are held accountable for their actions."

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Richard Cornell Brown is a three-time previously convicted felon whose criminal history includes a state conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a federal conviction for illegally possessing a firearm. The previous federal case was prosecuted after Brown threatened clerks at the U.S. Courthouse in Rome and made videos of himself shooting the Bartow County Sheriff's campaign signs.

On May 10, 2023, the Paulding County Sheriff's Office arrested Brown on state rape and sodomy charges after an attack on a Paulding County woman. When they arrested Brown, sheriff's deputies found a pistol in his possession. Due to his prior felony convictions, Brown was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

On October 20, 2026, U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced Richard Cornell Brown, 46, of Hiram, Georgia, to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Ray convicted Brown of felon in possession of a firearm following a bench trial on August 18, 2025.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Paulding County Sheriff's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III and Kaitlyn Salinas prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods and 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.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.