Marcus Thomas, a 39-year-old convicted felon from Georgia, has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison. This comes after he was found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition shortly after being released from state prison.
U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty has issued the sentence, which also includes an extra three years of supervised release.
On July 1, 2022, there was an incident at a Travel Inn motel located on Forest Hills Drive in Atlanta. The Atlanta Police Department (APD) received a call about gunshots being fired at the motel. According to witnesses, Thomas, who had been recently released from prison, was spotted with a firearm outside his motel room. Shortly after entering his room, witnesses heard gunshots.
Officers approached Thomas’ room and found indications of shooting, including a shattered window. Officers held Thomas on the scene, and later searched his room, finding a handgun magazine, numerous rounds of ammunition, and expended shot casings. Days later, APD discovered the handgun used in the shooting, hidden beneath a fitted sheet tucked into the mattress.
Investigators discovered that Thomas had a lengthy criminal record, including convictions for severe assault, terroristic threats, cocaine possession, and theft by obtaining stolen property. The motel shooting occurred only four days after his release from prison.
“Thomas was released from state prison only a few days before he illegally obtained a firearm and indiscriminately shot through a motel window, endangering the lives of others within the community,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners, violent repeat offenders like Thomas who risk the lives of others will be brought to justice.”
According to Sean Burke, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta, Thomas is a dangerous felon who wasted no time in returning to his criminal activities after being released from prison. He emphasized that the FBI and their law enforcement partners are committed to doing everything they can to ensure that criminals like Thomas are held accountable for their actions.
Thomas entered a guilty plea on August 28, 2024, for the charge of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. As a result, he received a prison sentence of three years and one month, followed by three years of supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Atlanta Police Department conducted the investigation of the case. The prosecution of the case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Thomas M. Forsyth, III.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said, “The reckless and dangerous actions of Marcus Thomas put innocent lives at risk, and this case exemplifies the Atlanta Police Department’s unwavering commitment to working with our federal partners to remove violent offenders from our streets.”