A Macon resident, Terico Jaques Balkcom, has pled guilty to a federal gun charge this week due to illegal firearm possession during his probation violation arrest. The 46-year-old entered the guilty plea to a single count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in front of U.S. District Court Judge Marc T. Treadwell on March 31. Balkcom potentially faces up to 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, along with a fine that could reach $250,000. The date for sentencing has not yet been set, as federal parole is not applicable in this system.
"It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm," Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker remarked. "Our office is collaborating with our law enforcement partners to hold repeat convicted felons accountable when they are found violating federal law."
GBI Director Chris Hosey also commented on the matter: “Ensuring public safety is our top priority, the GBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable who violate the law, especially those with a history of criminal behavior.”
Court documents reveal that the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) stopped Balkcom on May 20, 2024, for having an obscured vehicle tag. Balkcom was known to have an outstanding warrant for violating state probation connected to a felony conviction in Bibb County, Georgia. The GSP officer detected alcohol, leading to a field sobriety test. Balkcom presented a false identification under the name "Benjamin Brown." The inconsistency of the birth date on the ID raised suspicions, prompting confirmation of his identity by a familiar Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agent. Following this, Balkcom was arrested for the active probation warrant. A 9mm pistol was found in a Crown Royal bag together with Balkcom’s prescription medications. Furthermore, Balkcom discussed the gun and marijuana on a jail phone call that officers found in the vehicle.
Balkcom's criminal history includes several convictions and probation violations in Bibb County Superior Court. At the time of this incident, he was serving probation for a 2018 conviction related to crossing guard lines with weapons or drugs.
This case aligns with "Operation Take Back America," a Department of Justice initiative focused on combating illegal immigration, eliminating criminal cartels, and confronting violent crime through coordinated efforts from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Georgia State Patrol investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is handling prosecution.