Atlanta Man Sentenced to Over Eight Years for Illegal Firearm Possession
La'Qyale Emmanuel Fortson, 35, of Riverdale, Georgia, was sentenced to 100 months in prison on Sept. 4, 2026, after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
3 reports on this incident · first at Sep 5, 2026, 2:26 p.m. ET
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We last searched for new coverage of this at Sep 5, 2026, 1:39 p.m. ET — checked 8h ago.
Earlier reports
Sep 5, 2026, 2:31 p.m. ET
Atlanta Man Sentenced to Over Eight Years for Illegal Firearm Possession
MACON, Ga. – On September 4, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced that a metro Atlanta resident with a lengthy criminal past was sentenced to serve more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.
La'Qyale Emmanuel Fortson, 35, of Riverdale, Georgia, and of Butts County, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on September 3, 2026, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on May 19, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements in court, a deputy with the Butts County Sheriff's Office stopped Fortson's vehicle for following a tractor-trailer too closely on Interstate 75. The deputy detected an odor of marijuana, and a narcotics detection dog indicated odor responses in two areas. A search yielded a small quantity of suspected marijuana, an open tequila bottle, and an unloaded Glock pistol underneath the driver's seat. The pistol was confirmed as stolen out of East Point, Georgia. Fortson admitted he knew he was prohibited from possessing the pistol because he was a convicted felon.
Fortson has a lengthy criminal history, including prior convictions for aggravated assault, obstructing a peace officer, and battery. The Butts County Sheriff's Office investigated the case. Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.
Sep 5, 2026, 2:26 p.m. ETFirst report
Atlanta Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm
A metro Atlanta resident with a lengthy criminal past was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced on Sept. 4.
La'Qyale Emmanuel Fortson, 35, of Riverdale, Georgia, and of Butts County, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Sept. 3, after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on May 19. The sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, a deputy with the Butts County Sheriff's Office stopped Fortson's vehicle for following a tractor-trailer too closely on Interstate 75. The deputy detected an odor of marijuana, and a narcotics detection dog indicated on the vehicle. A search yielded a small quantity of suspected marijuana, an open tequila bottle, and an unloaded Glock pistol underneath the driver's seat. The pistol was confirmed as stolen out of East Point, Georgia. Fortson admitted he knew he was prohibited from possessing the pistol because he was a convicted felon.
Fortson has prior convictions for aggravated assault, obstructing a peace officer, and battery. The case was investigated by the Butts County Sheriff's Office and prosecuted by Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.
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First published.
- Version 15 Sept 2026, 18:26current
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- Version 15 Sept 2026, 18:36current
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