Montrez Ballard has been sentenced to ten years in prison after firing a machine gun at a Georgia State Patrol officer.
"Ballard’s brazen actions endangered the life of a law enforcement officer," said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Moultrie, Jr. "This lengthy prison sentence reflects Ballard’s dangerous, and potentially lethal, attack on a Georgia State Patrol trooper whose very mission is to help keep our community safe."
"The swift and coordinated response of law enforcement ensured that a dangerous individual was taken off the streets before he could inflict further harm. ATF will not stand by while criminals use illegally modified weapons to terrorize our communities. We will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who believe they can act without consequence," said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Jones.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges, and other information presented in court: On July 21, 2023, Ballard, driving a Nissan Maxima, abruptly cut off a Georgia State Patrol (GSP) trooper in Atlanta. Ballard fled from the trooper after the officer activated his emergency equipment to stop him. In his attempt to evade the trooper, Ballard drove more than 20 miles per hour above the speed limit in a residential neighborhood, ran stop signs, and nearly struck another motorist.
Minutes into the chase, Ballard’s vehicle crashed into a stop sign. He then exited his vehicle and fled on foot. When the trooper chased him, Ballard confronted the officer and fired at least three shots at him. The trooper returned fire but Ballard escaped.
Other law enforcement agencies including the Atlanta Police Department and Fulton County Sheriff’s Office responded to help locate Ballard. Officers eventually arrested him – who was on probation for a state robbery offense at the time – and recovered his firearm. His gun was examined and determined to be equipped with a device that converted it into a machine gun.
Montrez Ballard, 21, of Hampton, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee to ten years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with assistance from local police departments.
Assistant United States Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr., prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office or visit their website.