MACON, Ga. – -(AmmoLand.com)- A former Georgia Deputy pleaded guilty to possessing unregistered firearms resulting from an FBI-led investigation into a violent extremist group, said Peter D. Leary, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
Cody Richard Griggers, 28, of Montrose, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count possession of an unregistered firearm before U.S. District Judge Tilman “Tripp” Self on Monday, April 26. Griggers faces a maximum ten years of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on July 6. There is no parole in the federal system. Griggers was detained at his pretrial hearing and remains in custody.
“This former law enforcement officer knew that he was breaking the law when he chose to possess a cache of unregistered weapons, silencers and a machinegun, keeping many of them in his duty vehicle. Coupled with his violent racially motivated extreme statements, the defendant has lost the privilege permanently of wearing the blue,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to thank the FBI, ATF, and Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office for their work investigating this case.”
“All law enforcement officers swear an oath to uphold the law and protect each and every citizen they serve,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Griggers clearly violated his oath with his egregious actions and has no place in law enforcement.”
“We are committed to keeping our communities safe,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Schmidt, ATF Atlanta Field Division. “This investigation demonstrates how ATF investigates the illegal possession and manufacturing of illegal firearms by partnering with our local and federal counterparts, in this case the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Preventing the illegal possession of firearms is a key focus of ATF’s strategy to combat violent crime.”
As part of a California investigation into a man making violent political statements on social media, FBI agents discovered a group text with Griggers, who was a Deputy with the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office. In the group text, Griggers made statements that he was manufacturing and acquiring illegal firearms, explosives and suppressors. He also expressed viewpoints consistent with racially motivated violent extremism, including the use of racial slurs, slurs against homosexuals and making frequent positive references to the Nazi holocaust.
On November 19, 2020, agents executed a search warrant at Griggers’ residence and searched his Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office duty vehicle. Inside his duty vehicle, officers found multiple firearms, including a machinegun with an obliterated serial number. The machinegun was not issued to the defendant, and he was not allowed to have the weapon in his law enforcement car. An unregistered short barrel shotgun was found in his home. In all, between the defendant’s residence and duty vehicle, officers found 11 illegal firearms.
The case was investigated by FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will R. Keyes is prosecuting the case.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating violations of the federal firearms and explosives laws and regulations. More information about ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.
The only illegal firearm is one with an obliterated serial number. Any other violation is merely an illegally owned arm under current law. A subtle but important difference.
And what’s with the “unregistered firearms” in Georgia B.S.? That would only apply to Title 2 items.
Puts me in mind of one of the more nasty anti-gun lawmakers anywhere, Leland Yee, former Assemblyman from SOuthern California. He is still in prison for some high-volume arms trafficking, dealing i the very sorts of firearms he sought to deny the public he “served”. The kind of “service” a farmer will pay money for to get his milk cow in calf again.
Looks real good on ol’ Yee. Better had all the other antigun California lawmakers been involved and now all residing at the same GreyBar Hotel.
it is funny to read your reply I worked dea in miami in the bad old days ,saw more people motivated by money than you can count ; so few good honest people it was what made me quit .You were a target of other law enforcement because you were not on the take even now it is the same https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-sb-jane-watts-miami-case-20170208-story.html good cop threatened by almost all the others
problem was after jimmy the smiling idiot let in so many marilitos , crime skyrocketed and police hiring became a race to fill numbers ,quantity not quality. Before that we were holding our own and most murders were dealers only a few open machine gun battles,then the big buildup and about 75% of the fast hires were crooked and there are still some of the tail-end of that lot on the job criminals on prowl
Just what the cops don’t need is another bad apple as they are having a hard enough time as it is with all the bad press they have been getting.
Cody Richard Griggers was happy to throw people in the rape cage for the NON VIOLENT, NON CRIME of possessing some cool hardware. Knowing in his heart this is not an unethical or immoral act he kept the spoils of his plunder. Shame on this male person…