Help Wanted: Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to prosecute violent crimes in Savannah

Drew Favakeh and Will Peebles, Savannah Morning News
·5 min read
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Savannah now has a special assistant U.S. attorney to prosecute federal crimes.

At Thursday's City Council meeting, the mayor and alderman approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and U.S. Attorney’s Office by a 6-3 vote. The special assistant, who will serve as a city employee, will work from the U.S. Department of Justice's Southern District of Georgia office.

Asked why Savannah was a focal point, David Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, told Savannah Morning News, "Most of the violent crime occurs in the population centers Augusta, Savannah, Statesboro, Brunswick."

On May 18, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson sent a letter to the Chatham County District Attorney, the USDOJ and Savannah Police Department about the increase in violent crime in Savannah, "essentially asking what can be done about it," said Estes.

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Estes asked if the mayor would be interested in hiring a special assistant U.S. attorney to address crimes of a federal nature, such as gun violence crimes committed by convicted felons. "And they were amenable to that," said Estes.

The memorandum, Estes said, remains a draft and has not been finalized yet. The special assistant, he explained, will help the Southern District focus more on violent crime in Savannah, something hard to do when the district is responsible for 43 counties across south Georgia and employs a "limited number of prosecutors."

"So, I can't direct all of my resources to just Savannah,  but I do live here and I want to address violent crime," Estes said.

David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, speaks during a news conference Nov. 22, 2021, to announce indictments in USA v. Patricio et al, Operation Blooming Onion, a human trafficking investigation naming 24 defendants on felony charges including human smuggling and document fraud.
David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, speaks during a news conference Nov. 22, 2021, to announce indictments in USA v. Patricio et al, Operation Blooming Onion, a human trafficking investigation naming 24 defendants on felony charges including human smuggling and document fraud.

Federal crimes

As far as Savannah's rising gun violence, the Southern District of Georgia prosecutes only cases of convicted felons who possess firearms that have been transported in interstate and foreign commerce, or both. Most of the people the USDOJ prosecutes reach plea deals because most of the cases are not "overly complex," said Estes.

The Southern District of Georgia also works with local law enforcement agencies on special programs including Project Safe Neighborhoods and Operation Ceasefire. In the latter project, the USDOJ meets with SPD, and SPD presents USDOJ with potential federal crimes, and the USDOJ decides whether or not they are able to prosecute the crime.

"If we have the evidence and we have the jurisdiction, we're gonna take it," said Estes, though he wasn't sure what percentage of cases the USDOJ takes on that local police departments propose.

District 3 Alderwoman Linda Wilder Bryan speaks before Savannah City Council's vote on the Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Attorney's Office at Thursday's city council meeting.
District 3 Alderwoman Linda Wilder Bryan speaks before Savannah City Council's vote on the Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Attorney's Office at Thursday's city council meeting.

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Interim SPD Chief Lenny Gunther said one of his major priorities is to "initiate more enforcement actions against gangs, even neighborhood-based gangs, in the community." To do so, Gunther said, he plans to bring "different law enforcement agencies to the table," including the USDOJ.

"We're working toward indictments and to identify and prosecute as many individuals that are out there that are claiming a part or being part of gangs and committing these crimes under the umbrella of being a gang and prosecuting them federally," Gunther said last week.

At-Large Alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakely looks on as City Manager Jay Melder explains details of the city's Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Attorney's Office at Thursday's City Council meeting.
At-Large Alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakely looks on as City Manager Jay Melder explains details of the city's Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Attorney's Office at Thursday's City Council meeting.

Memorandum details

The memorandum of understanding allows the city of Savannah to interview and appoint a candidate, with input from the U.S. Attorney's office.

The appointment will be for two years, but the USAO can terminate the position at any point before then, and a mutual agreement between the city and the USAO can renew or extend the term.

Savannah city council will also have termination powers for the position, and for the MOU as a whole, at any point after the attorney is hired.

The position will be under the city's payroll through appropriated funds, and the USAO will provide no funding. However, the USAO will pay for the travel and training expenses incurred by the position.

The attorney's main focus will be violent crime in Savannah, in which the city is the lead agency on the investigation, and "in cases in which the city has a significant interest."

Council Vote

Two city council members, Alderwoman Alicia Blakely (at-large) and Bernetta Lanier (District 1), expressed concern that the memorandum was rushed, saying Johnson didn’t tie them into the conversation prior to the memorandum being brought before council.

"We did not even have any discussion about it. I didn't even find out about this until I saw it in the agenda," said Blakely.

At-large Alderwoman Kesha Gibson-Carter disagreed with the allocation of the funds to address federal violent crimes. She added that the language in the memorandum is “very loose." She added that Black and Brown people have been negatively affected by the justice department before.

At-Large Alderwomen Alicia Miller Blakely and Kesha Gibson Carter look on as Savannah City Council discusses the details of the city's Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Attorney's Office at Thursday's City Council meeting. Both Blakely and Carter voted against the measure.
At-Large Alderwomen Alicia Miller Blakely and Kesha Gibson Carter look on as Savannah City Council discusses the details of the city's Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Attorney's Office at Thursday's City Council meeting. Both Blakely and Carter voted against the measure.

"For us to expected to enter in an agreement or sign off on a resolution that will impact many lives, victims as well as criminals, I think it’s irresponsible,” Gibson-Carter said.

Additionally, she questioned the effectiveness of the memorandum, pointing out that many crimes in Savannah are not federal crimes, but state crimes. She thought funding the SPD special victims unit would be a better way to spend money.

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District 6 Alderman Kurtis Purtee disagreed, saying many SPD officers are frustrated that they see repeat offenders. “This is a no brainer folks, if you can’t figure that out, then I don’t know what to tell ya."

Multiple city council members expressed support for the memorandum because of their personal connections to gun violence, including Alderwoman Linda Wilder-Bryan.

Mayor Johnson said it was an opportunity to help SPD. "It is a tool in the toolbox," said Johnson.

District 2 Alderman Detric Leggett hold his head in his hands as the Savannah City Council discussion on the city's Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Attorney's Office drags on at Thursday's City Council meeting.
District 2 Alderman Detric Leggett hold his head in his hands as the Savannah City Council discussion on the city's Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Attorney's Office drags on at Thursday's City Council meeting.

Hiring process

As far as next steps, Estes said his office will help the city find a candidate, who must pass two separate background checks, one by the city and another by the USDOJ.

"As soon as we can get somebody on board, we'll put them to work," said Estes. "And the mayor has indicated to me that they would like to do this sooner than rather than later. I'm in the same boat. We want to move out as quickly as we possibly can."

Drew Favakeh is the public safety reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah, DOJ partnership to ramp up prosecution of violent crimes