VALDOSTA, GAAFollowing his arrest during a traffic stop in 2023 that found roughly 800 grams of drugs in his car, a 37-year-old South Georgia serial offender was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for methamphetamine possession.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, Joshua Keith Thompson will serve the equivalent of more than 16 years and 8 months, followed by three years of supervised release with no chance of parole because of federal sentence guidelines.
Traffic Stop Leads to Major Drug Bust
On March 25, 2023, Thompson was pulled over by a Georgia State Patrol trooper for failing to wear a seatbelt while operating a sports vehicle. This incident resulted in Thompson’s conviction. While the stop was being made:
-
Thompson gave the officer a
driver s license that was not his
-
The trooper noticed a
clear plastic bag
near Thompson s leg - A K-9 unit detected the scent of narcotics
-
Officers discovered
784.53 grams of meth
on the car s floorboard
After tripping and being threatened with a taser, Thompson tried to escape on foot but was swiftly captured.
Long Rap Sheet Contributes to Harsh Sentence
Thompson’s sentencing was largely influenced by his extensive criminal history. His prior convictions cover several jurisdictions and consist of:
- Felon in possession of a firearm
- Burglary
- Theft
- Drug offenses
- Providing false information to law enforcement
The sentencing is part of a larger effort to hold career offenders accountable, according to federal and state officials.
According to U.S. Attorney William R. Keyes, convicted offenders who consistently break the law will be held accountable at the federal level.
Special Agent in Charge, FBI AtlantaJoshua Thompson and Paul Brownadded have consistently demonstrated their disrespect for our nation’s laws.
Federal and State Collaboration Credited
The FBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and Georgia State Patrol (GSP) worked together to successfully prosecute the case.
Colonel William W. Hitchens III, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, stated, “We collaborate with state and federal agencies to hold criminals accountable, from a seatbelt violation to a federal court case.”
In charge of the federal prosecution was Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica L. Daniels.
Do you believe that more extensive criminal checks ought to follow traffic stops? Tell the Saluda Standard-Sentinel what you think.
