Montrez Ballard has been sentenced to a decade in prison for firing a machine gun at a Georgia State Patrol officer. Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Moultrie, Jr., commented on the severity of the crime: “Ballard’s brazen actions endangered the life of a law enforcement officer. 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 incident occurred on July 21, 2023, when Ballard, driving a Nissan Maxima, cut off a Georgia State Patrol trooper in Atlanta. After the trooper activated his emergency equipment to stop him, Ballard fled at high speed through a residential neighborhood. During the pursuit, he crashed into a stop sign and attempted to escape on foot. When confronted by the pursuing trooper, Ballard fired three shots at him before fleeing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Jones emphasized law enforcement's response: “The swift and coordinated response of law enforcement ensured that a dangerous individual was taken off the streets before he could inflict further harm."
Ballard was later apprehended with assistance from various agencies including the Atlanta Police Department and Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. At that time, he was already on probation for state robbery offenses. His weapon—a Glock 19 9mm handgun—was found modified to function as a machine gun.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee sentenced Montrez Ballard to ten years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and enhance public safety through cooperation between law enforcement agencies and communities.
For more information about this case or Project Safe Neighborhoods initiatives in Georgia's Northern District, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office.