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Press Release

Savannah drug dealer sentenced to federal prison

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Georgia
Crimes occurred while convicted felon was on supervised release

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Chatham County man with a violent history has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting he distributed cocaine and marijuana.

Okemi Mon Lawton, 45, of Savannah, was sentenced to 90 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Lawton forfeited $19,640.31 seized during the investigation, and U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Lawton to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Okemi Lawton is a prime example of a violent, unrepentant criminal whose removal from our streets automatically makes our communities safer,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure such gun-toting drug dealers have no place in our neighborhoods.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Lawton was on supervised release following a prison sentence for a federal firearms charge in August 2018 when the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team began investigating suspected drug distribution from Lawton’s Savannah residence. With assistance from the FBI, agents documented Lawton’s sale of cocaine, and a subsequent search of the residence discovered drugs, drug manufacturing and packaging materials, nearly $20,000 in cash, and a semi-automatic pistol.  

In addition to his prior felony conviction for illegal gun possession, Lawton previously served time in state prison for a manslaughter conviction and for cocaine distribution.

“Some criminals never learn from their arrests no matter how many times they are punished for them, and Lawton is certainly one of them,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Together with our state and local law enforcement partners, the FBI is determined to make our streets safer by removing violent felons like him and making them pay the price with long prison terms.”

The case was investigated by CNT and the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington II and Noah J. Abrams.

Contact

Barry L. Paschal, Public Affairs Officer: 912-652-4422

Updated September 21, 2021

Topics
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses
Violent Crime
Press Release Number: 149-21