Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
Arthur Gene Young, a repeat offender with prior violent convictions, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after being found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm and resisting arrest in Bremen, Georgia. This latest conviction marked the third time within two years that Young, already barred from firearm possession due to previous felonies, was found with a weapon.
"Armed felons cannot be allowed to terrorize the citizens of our district," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. He highlighted the collaborative efforts of local law enforcement and federal authorities to remove Young from the community and stressed the ongoing commitment to curbing gun violence and repeat offenses.
ATF Special Agent in Charge, Benjamin Gibbons, emphasized the importance of the sentence, noting that it "will ensure the incarceration of a dangerous criminal and contribute to the restoration of order and peace to this area." Gibbons assured that such efforts signal a commitment by ATF and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute violent criminals.
Bremen Police Department Lieutenant Joshua Newman also praised the law enforcement cooperation that led to Young’s arrest and thanked all the agencies involved in the case.
The details of Young’s arrest on May 2, 2023, were recounted by Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie. The incident began at a pharmacy in Bremen, where Young shoplifted and returned the next day, leading to an altercation with the store manager. When police arrived, he fled, claiming he would not return to prison. His escape attempt ended at a train track, where a loaded 7.65mm semiautomatic pistol was found in his possession during a struggle with officers.
Young's criminal history includes convictions for offenses such as attempted robbery by intimidation and terroristic threats. At the time of his arrest, he was under indictment for other charges, including attempted armed robbery and multiple counts of felon in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. rendered the 14-year sentence and ordered an additional three years of supervised release following his prison term. This judgment followed Young's guilty plea during the midst of a jury trial.
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bremen Police Department, Haralson County Sheriff’s Office, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and Georgia State Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore S. Hertzberg and Amy M. Palumbo handled the prosecution.
This case forms part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through strategic law enforcement collaboration and community partnerships. The Department of Justice reaffirmed PSN's role in crime reduction with a renewed strategy unveiled on May 26, 2021.
For more information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office, or visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia's website.
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