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LOWNDES COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Two South Georgia men with prior criminal histories have been sentenced to federal prison after being found guilty of illegally possessing firearms in separate cases tied to Operation Take Back America.

Jacques Lamar Hill, 27, of Thomasville, was sentenced to 108 months in prison and will serve his sentence alongside a separate state case. Porterfield Stokes, 69, of Valdosta, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison.

Both men will also serve three years of supervised release following their prison terms.

According to court documents, Hill was under investigation for drug activity in Valdosta when law enforcement executed a search warrant at his apartment in 2020. Officers recovered multiple firearms, including a stolen pistol and an AR-style rifle, along with drugs, cash, and ammunition. Hill, who was on parole at the time, has a lengthy criminal record, including prior drug and gang-related convictions.

In a separate case, authorities say Stokes admitted to having firearms in his home after officers and his parole officer visited his residence in 2023. Stokes, also on parole, has a decades-long criminal history that includes convictions for drug distribution, aggravated assault, and firearm offenses.

Federal officials say both cases highlight ongoing efforts to target repeat offenders and reduce violent crime. The investigations were led by the FBI and the Valdosta Police Department.

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