AMERICUS, Ga. (WALB) - An Americus man was sentenced in a U.S. district court on drug-related charges following a multi-agency investigation.

On Wednesday, Juan Antonious Boone, 36, was sentenced to serve 181 months, about 15 years, followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system, according to a release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District of Georgia.

On Oct. 9, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

“Fentanyl distribution and armed criminal activity pose a grave threat to public safety,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “This sentencing sends a clear message: individuals who choose to traffic deadly drugs and illegally possess firearms will be met with the full force of the law. We remain steadfast in our mission to protect Georgia communities through strong partnerships and relentless investigative work.”

Court documents and statements show that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) used a confidential informant between June 13, 2023, and Aug. 7, 2023, to purchase small amounts of narcotics, including fentanyl, from Boone in the Americus area.

On Jan. 8, 2024, the GBI conducted surveillance of Boone at the Days Inn in Americus as he left the hotel.

After leaving, Boone was pulled over by officers with Americus Police. At the time, he was wanted on an active probation warrant.

Instead of getting out of the vehicle, Boone drove away at a high speed, almost hitting an officer. This prompted a pursuit to a nearby apartment complex where he got to a dead-end. He then got out of the car and ran away. He had a firearm in his hand and one in his waistband. He was safely apprehended.

At the time of his apprehension, Boone was illegally possessing two stolen 9mm pistols.

Inside his car, officers found the following:

• About 24 grams of fentanyl
• 79.743 grams of methamphetamine
• 251 grams of cocaine
• A large quantity of marijuana
• A 9mm semiautomatic pistol

“The Americus Police Department appreciates the teamwork between local, state, and federal law enforcement partners that helps to get dangerous criminals like this off our streets. We are all in the fight together against violent offenders who are flooding our streets with fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics,” said Americus Police Chief Mark Scott.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, which "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," the release said.

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 release said.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the GBI, and the Americus Police Department (APD).

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