Dublin man sentenced to 7 years in federal gun case
Federal prosecutors say Michael Rice was found with a .38 caliber pistol in Laurens County in October 2024
DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Dublin man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia says 37-year-old Michael Rice was sentenced to 84 months in prison and fined $1,500. Rice will also serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence.
Federal prosecutors say Rice was found with a .38 caliber pistol in Laurens County in October 2024. Under federal law, people with prior felony convictions are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Rice was one of three men sentenced in separate illegal firearms cases. The other cases involved men from Augusta and Lawrenceville.
“We will continue to support our law enforcement partners in their efforts to remove these dangerous weapons from the streets and to keep our communities safe,” U.S. Attorney Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to hold accountable those that unlawfully possess these lethal weapons.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Dublin Police Department, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia State Patrol assisted in the investigations.
