Defendant Sentenced for Violent Assault of FBI Special Agent and Distribution of Methamphetamine

ATLANTA - Cedrick Hill, 31, of Marietta, Ga., has been sentenced to 26 years of imprisonment for the violent assault of an FBI special agent and the sale of multiple kilos of methamphetamine. While trying to evade arrest, Hill drove a vehicle at high speed while the agent was trapped in the driver’s side door of the defendant’s truck, resulting in the agent’s hospitalization for two weeks and a lengthy recovery.

“Determined to escape at all costs, this defendant gravely injured an FBI special agent in the line of duty,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “No sentence can remedy the physical and emotional harm suffered by the agent because of Hill’s conduct, but hopefully this sentence will cause others to think twice before risking harm to law enforcement officers during the performance of their duties.  This case is also an important reminder to the community of the risks faced by law enforcement officers daily and the respect and admiration they earn through exceptional acts of bravery taken to protect the public.”

“Anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer is dangerous and an extreme threat to public safety. Hill showed absolutely no regard for the life of our agent and caused him extreme harm. We are thankful that the agent has recovered, and Hill is finally being held accountable for his crimes,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.  “This case is an important reminder of the risks that our law enforcement officers face every day to keep our communities safe and the length we will go to remove violent offenders from our streets.”

According to United States Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: On October 12, 2017, Cedrick Hill was indicted by a federal grand jury in a 30-defendant indictment alleging various gang-related and drug offenses.  Hill was specifically charged with supplying gang members with approximately six kilograms of methamphetamine over the course of two drug transactions.  Hill initially avoided arrest by going into hiding, traveling to multiple states via bus and rental cars.  

Later, after determining Hill’s location in the early morning hours of January 4, 2018, an FBI special agent encountered Hill in the foyer of a hotel in Sandy Springs, Georgia, and attempted to arrest him.  Hill initially complied with the agents’ instructions to put his arms behind his back, but then suddenly began resisting as the agent began to handcuff him.  Hill then ran through the lobby of the hotel, jumped over a counter, and bolted from the hotel with the agent in pursuit.  As Hill ran to his truck and climbed into the driver’s seat, the agent followed and became lodged in the driver’s side door. 

With the agent caught in the door, Hill drove through the parking lot at a high rate of speed, dragging the agent, crushing him at various points of impact in an attempt to shake the agent loose, and breaking the agent’s arm and femur.  With his free hand, the agent managed to discharge his service weapon, striking Hill twice. But Hill continued to drive at a high rate of speed, exited the hotel parking lot, crossed Interstate 285, and turned down an access road.  Eventually Hill stopped the vehicle, opened the door, and released the seriously injured agent onto the side of the road.  The agent managed to call 911 and request medical care for Hill and himself. 

The agent’s injuries were extensive, requiring two weeks of hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and 18 months of rehabilitation.  He suffered permanent nerve damage in his arm, among other lasting injuries.

U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg sentenced Hill to 26 years in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.   

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.