Macon Mafia member sentenced to prison for illegally possessing firearm
Nekoase Vinson sentenced for firearm possession after fatal 2024 gang-related shooting in Macon.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- Nekoase Antwan Vinson, a convicted felon and Macon Mafia member, has received a 107-month prison sentence after illegally possessing a firearm. His sentence stems from a fatal gang-related shooting that occurred in Macon in July 2024.
Vinson’s role in fatal 2024 gang-related shooting
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Vinson, 41, was at a Marathon gas station on Napier Avenue when gun violence erupted on July 20, 2024. Video surveillance showed Vinson’s co-defendant, Joshua Teone Curry, exchanging fire with unidentified individuals using a fully automatic pistol. Vinson displayed an AR-style rifle during the incident. The gunfight killed RaQuavian Smith, an associate of both men.
Law enforcement officers seized several firearms and Macon Mafia-related memorabilia following the shooting. On August 23, 2024, officers executed a search warrant at a location linked to Vinson and Curry. The search uncovered a Glock Model 23 .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine, a Sig Sauer Model P320 .45 caliber pistol, and a Del-Ton AR-style rifle. Officers also recovered Vinson’s Mafia 4 Life (M4L) medallion, which he wore during the shooting.
Vinson sentenced after pleading guilty
Vinson pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in February 2024. The court sentenced him to 71 months for that charge. He also had his supervised release revoked from a previous case in West Virginia. He had been convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, for which he served a 36-month sentence.
Law enforcement and prosecutorial efforts
The case was part of a broader initiative called Operation Take Back America, aimed at curbing violent crime and dismantling criminal organizations. Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker condemned the violence tied to illegal firearms, stating, “A man lost his life as a result of a gang-related shooting where convicted felons illegally possessed rapid-fire guns capable of killing many people.” Bibb County Sheriff David Davis also expressed relief, saying, “We can be grateful that for almost nine years, Nekoase Vinson will not be able to spew violence which might harm law-abiding citizens.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, with Criminal Chief Leah E. McEwen prosecuting the case.
