Wilkinson County man faces up to 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearm while threatening to shoot, kill deputies

57-year-old Christopher Thomas Ford threatened deputies with shotgun

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Christopher Thomas Ford, a 57-year-old Toomsboro resident, faces up to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm illegally.

Ford, who the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia says has a violent criminal history, threatened to shoot and kill deputies executing an arrest warrant.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office deputies went to Ford’s home on December 20, 2022, to execute an arrest warrant for terroristic threats. When deputies found Ford in a shed, he threatened them with a loaded black Omega 12-gauge shotgun, saying, “I ain’t playing with y’all, I ain’t going back to prison. You can kill me or I’m going to kill y’all.” Ford escaped into the woods but was arrested the next day when he returned home. His father had taken the shotgun from him while he slept.

Ford admitted that he “wanted suicide by police,” knowing he was not allowed to possess guns as a convicted felon. His prior convictions include possession of cocaine, terroristic threats, aggravated assault and cruelty to children in the third degree.

He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on July 8. He could be sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison, followed by at least three years of supervised release, and fined up to $250,000. Sentencing is set for October 9.

“Convicted felons are prohibited from possessing firearms; our office will seek federal prosecution against people who disregard the law, especially those with violent criminal pasts,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said. “The Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program is aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Our office is dedicated to supporting the efforts of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to achieve this goal.”

Robert Gibbs, FBI Atlanta’s Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of the Macon Office, says Wilkinson County is safer now that guns are out of Ford’s hands.

“If Ford had put finger to trigger, the entire community would have been in danger,” Gibbs said. “We are thankful for the actions of the Wilkinson County deputies and Ford’s father. We are firmly committed to working with all of our partners and using all tools available to curb the violence impacting the American people – here in Georgia, and across the country.”

Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Director Chris Hosey says the GBI will continue to leverage its partnership with local, state and federal agencies that are working to reduce violent crime.

“We will not tolerate acts that put our communities and law enforcement in danger, and we will work to make sure that dangerous criminals like Ford are off the streets,” Hosey said.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program uniting all levels of law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on core principles: fostering trust in communities, supporting community-based violence prevention, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

The case was investigated by the FBI, GBI and the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the government.