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Date: 07-21-2020
Case Style:
Case Number: 1:19-cr-00160-LMM-JSA
Judge: Leigh Martin May
Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (Fulton County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Atlanta, GA - The United States of America charged Michael Terrell with forcibly assaulting and battering a federal mail carrier and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the crime.
“Terrell’s conduct is especially egregious as he showed no regard for the life of the mail carrier who was simply doing his job,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “This kind of senseless attack jeopardizes the safety of both postal employees and the general public.”
“The safety and security of Postal Service employees is core to the mission of the Postal Inspection Service,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to help protect our communities from the significant threats posed by criminals.”
“Crime, and the people who commit them, are destroying our communities,” said Arthur Peralta, ATF Special Agent in Charge. “Mr. Terrell’s actions show his complete disregard for his community and the safety of those who live there.”
“This assault on a representative the United States Postal Service (USPS) is disturbing and unacceptable. Criminals who would seek to harm public servants and people who seek to use the USPS as a means to traffic drugs must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said Atlanta Interim Police Chief Rodney Bryant.
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges, and other information presented in court: On March 2, 2019, the DeKalb County Police Department and U.S. Postal Inspectors investigated the armed assault of a mail carrier at a restaurant in Tucker, Georgia. The mail carrier had just delivered a parcel to the cashier at the restaurant when Terrell grabbed the parcel and followed the mail carrier to his postal vehicle.
Terrell then attempted to block the mail carrier’s access to the vehicle, and forced his way inside the vehicle, and took the keys. Terrell began rummaging through the vehicle looking for the missing contents of the parcel, later determined to have been a large quantity of marijuana. Terrell then pulled a firearm on the mail carrier before fleeing the scene.
At the time of the assault, Michael Terrell, 25, of Decatur, Georgia, was under indictment in Fulton County, Georgia, for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a felony on December 7, 2018.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel R. Boatright prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the DeKalb County Police Department, the City of Atlanta Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol are investigating this case.
This case is bought as a part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.
21:841A1=MP.F and 841(b)(1)(D) and Title 18, USC, Section 2 POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE MARIJUANA
(1)
18:924C.F(1)(A)(i) and Section 2 VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN
(2)
18:111.F(a)(1) and (b) ASSAULTING/RESISTING/IMPEDING OFFICERS/EMPLOYEES
(3)
18:924C.F(1)(A)(ii) and Section 2 VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN
(4)
18:922N.F and 924(a)(1)(D) and Section 2 TRANSPORT FIREARMS INTERSTATE BY FELON
(5)
21:841A1=MP.F and 841(b)(1)(D) and Title 18, USC, Section 2 POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE MARIJUANA
(6)
18:924C.F(1)(A)(i) and Section 2 VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN
(7)
21:846=MD.F, 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D) CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE MARIJUANA
(8)
Outcome: 07/15/2020 76 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Leigh Martin May: Change of Plea Hearing as to Michael Terrell, PLEA of GUILTY by Michael Terrell (1) Guilty Count 3,4. Defendant was sworn, advised of rights, and a binding plea was entered as to counts three and four of the Indictment. This guilty plea is contingent upon the Court accepting the sentencing recommendation of the parties as referenced in the plea agreement. The Court accepted the plea as knowingly and voluntarily entered. Sentencing is set for 09/30/2020 at 9:30 a.m. The Court requires sentencing memorandum and any other information that a party wants the Court to consider in connection with the sentencing be submitted to the Court and served on opposing counsel 5 business days before the sentencing hearing. A party who intends to present evidence at the sentencing hearing shall advise the Court and opposing counsel of the identity of each witness and the estimated length of the testimony for each witness 3 business days before the sentencing hearing. It is not necessary that such notice be provided for general character witnesses. If the Government is seeking forfeiture, any proposed forfeiture order must be filed on CM/ECF 3 business days before the sentencing hearing. (Attachments: # 1 Guilty Plea and Plea Agreement) (Court Reporter Montrell Vann) (tmf) (Entered: 07/16/2020)
07/15/2020 77 NOTICE OF SENTENCING Set as to Michael Terrell. Sentencing set for 9/30/2020 at 09:30 AM in ATLA Courtroom 2107 before Judge Leigh Martin May. (tmf) (Entered: 07/16/2020)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
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