Forsyth man among several sentenced in Georgia federal gun crime crackdown

A Forsyth man has been sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal firearm possession.

SAVANNAH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Forsyth man has been sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal firearm possession.

49-year-old Richard Bruce Salyer Jr. of Forsyth joins a list of defendants across the state facing federal charges or sentencing for gun-related offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Salyer received a 170-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Chatham County police officers found a pistol in Salyer’s waistband while investigating a stolen vehicle report in November 2023. At the time of his arrest, Salyer, who had two prior convictions for illegal firearm possession, was an escapee from the Jefferson County Correctional Institute.

In addition to Salyer, 12 others have recently been adjudicated on federal firearms charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. 49-year-old David Kreiss of Twin City, 29-year-old Kavon Smalls of Savannah, 23-year-old Keyeon Demar Tykeim Smith, 24-year-old Maleak J. Parrish of Savannah, 45-year-old Willie Dunbar of Villa Rica, 42-year-old Brodrick Kyle Merritt of Augusta, 23-year-old Raquan Williams of Savannah, 22-year-old Stanley Hall of Savannah, 26-year-old Corinthian Lamar Colonel of Savannah, 30-year-old Eddie Robertson of Savannah, 32-year-old Jacorey Rivers of Savannah and 48-year-old Scottie Eugene Bryant of Grovetown have all been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing.

“As we continue to see the proliferation of illegal guns converted to fully automatic fire, we commend our law enforcement partners for acting to contain this threat to our neighborhoods,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Jill E. Steinberg said. “Keeping firearms out of the hands of felons remains a priority for our office.”

In addition to those cases, a recent indictment includes the following defendants who all face federal charges:

• 30-year-old Antonio Rodriquez Holmes III of Augusta: He’s charged with illegal possession of a machine gun, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
• 46-year-old Luke Bunyun Jr. of Waynesboro: He’s charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
• 35-year-old Lemar Neil Robinson of Savannah: He’s charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
• 57-year-old Charlie Sapp of Savannah: He’s charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

All the cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which works with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the ATF and FBI, to reduce violent crime by prosecuting illegal firearm possession cases, particularly targeting convicted felons.