Athens man faces prison time for federal gun, knife violations
An Athens man, described by the FBI as “the definition of a repeat offender,” faces years in a federal penitentiary following his guilty plea this week to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Michael Anthony Randall, 32, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Athens. He will face a judge for sentencing on July 9.
Randall also pleaded guilty to possession of contraband in jail after he admitted he hid homemade knives while he was imprisoned on a firearms charge, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Macon.
Randall was on parole when he was arrested for possessing the firearm, according to the prosecutors.
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“In fairly quick succession – including shortly before a federal hearing for his second offense for illegally possessing a firearm – Michael Randall was caught with a weapon, putting himself and others in danger,” U.S. Attorney Peter Leary said in a statement released with the plea announcement.
Keri Farley, the FBI agent in charge of the Atlanta office, described Randall as a repeat offender.
Farley, along with U.S. Marshal Stephen D. Lynn and Butts County Sheriff Gary Long, all expressed appreciation to the U.S. Attorney for prosecuting the Randall case.
Randall was arrested on a charge of illegally possessing a .380-caliber pistol in Athens on Jan. 12, 2021. He was already a convicted felon with convictions in North Carolina and Georgia, according to federal prosecutors.
On Nov. 8, 2022, authorities said Butts County deputies found a shank or homemade knife, in Randall’s possession, then two days later they found him in possession of another shank. Then on Dec. 16 he was found with a third shank inside the jail, according to the document.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens man faces July 9 sentencing for federal gun violation
