Craig Michael Barbee Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Felony Firearms Violation

JACKSON, TN—Craig Michael Barbee, 40, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton, III.

Barbee’s sentence comes as a result of his involvement in a May 2012 robbery at the Dollar General Store in Friendship, Tennessee, which resulted in the shooting of Friendship Police Chief Bill Garrett. Barbee was found guilty in state court of attempted second-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, and a felony firearms charge. He received a 106-year sentence in that case. The federal case arises from the day following the shooting, where Barbee was apprehended and found to be in possession of a firearm. Barbee’s federal sentence is concurrent to his state sentence.

“Today’s sentence of 30 years, without the possibility of parole, hopefully brings some measure of relief to Police Chief Garrett, his family and close friends,” said U.S. Attorney Stanton. “Any attempt on someone’s life is horrific, but the fact that Mr. Barbee was brazenly attempting to take the life of a law enforcement official underscores the extreme danger he posed to the greater community.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crockett County Sheriff’s Department, Lauderdale Sheriff’s Department, and the Friendship Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Victor L. Ivy prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.