A Savannah resident, Charlie Sapp, 58, has been convicted in U.S. District Court for possessing ammunition as a prohibited person following an incident in October 2021. The announcement was made by Tara M. Lyons, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Sapp faces up to 10 years in prison and a period of supervised release after serving any sentence. Federal law does not allow parole.
According to information presented at trial, on October 8, 2021, Sapp pointed a firearm at another individual and pulled the trigger three times. An eyewitness called 911 immediately after the shooting. Officers from the Savannah Police Department arrived within five minutes and found two 9mm Luger shell casings at the scene. An expert from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives determined that these shell casings qualified as ammunition under federal law and were not manufactured in Georgia, making it a federal offense.
The prosecution established that Sapp fired these rounds from his firearm during the incident. He was barred from possessing ammunition due to prior felony convictions in Chatham County’s Superior Court.
Sapp had previously faced trial for this conduct in November 2022 through the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office; that proceeding ended without a conviction.
ATF Acting ASAC Robert Davis said, “Our commitment to public safety is unwavering. The prosecution of individuals who unlawfully possess firearms and ammunition is critical in our efforts to reduce gun violence in our communities."
Savannah Chief of Police Lenny B. Gunther stated: “This is a win for all law enforcement involved. I would like to especially thank the men and women of the ATF for their hard work and diligence in this case.”
The case falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative coordinated by the Department of Justice with goals including addressing illegal immigration, dismantling criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime through joint efforts such as Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs). PSN brings together various levels of law enforcement with an aim to decrease violent crime rates.
The investigation was conducted by agents from ATF and officers from Savannah Police Department. Prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia R. Jonese and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura.