Two Middle Georgia men sentenced for illegally possessing firearms

Nicholas Ryan Carden and Michael Andrews have each been sentenced for possessing firearms after being convicted of felony offenses. Together, Carden’s and Andrew’s criminal histories involve prior convictions for burglaries and multiple theft offenses.

“Repeat offenders like Carden and Andrews, who possess firearms, pose a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak.  “Their continual return to criminal activity represents a lack of fear of consequences for their action.  Citizens deserve safety and a drug-free community.  Our office will continue prosecuting and removing repeat offenders like these two from our streets as part of our commitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods.”

“Making a conscious choice to possess firearms and narcotics after you have been previously convicted of felony crimes shows a complete disregard for our laws,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Arthur Peralta.  “People who have no regard for themselves clearly do not care about their community and in many instances; they provide firearms and narcotics to others, leading them down a path that many cannot recover from.”

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: On January 26, 2018, Coweta County, Georgia, police officers were checking locations known for drug activity in Grantville, Georgia, when they observed Carden sitting in a vehicle in a McDonald’s restaurant parking lot. When the officers approached, Carden sped off. As he fled, officers saw Carden throw a North American Arms .22 caliber pistol and suspected drugs from a window of the car.

On February 22, 2018, Coweta County officers again encountered Carden after he ran a stop sign.  After the traffic stop, the officers found a large sharpie pen next to Carden’s seat.  The pen contained four small individual bags of methamphetamine.  Michael Andrews was a passenger in the vehicle with Carden.  Andrews was arrested after officers found a loaded F.I.E. .25 caliber pistol hidden in his waistband, and small bags of methamphetamine in his pockets.

U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Batten Sr. sentenced Carden to two years, five months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Carden received credit for five months of time served.  Andrews was sentenced to two years, one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  Andrews also received credit for five months timed served.  On May 24, 2019, Carden and Andrews each pled guilty to the offenses of felon-in-possession of a firearm.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dash A. Cooper prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.

Information from the US Department of Justice.