GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Henry Jonathan Saravia has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon. Saravia was previously convicted of several violent felonies, including homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault.
“Preventing felons from possessing firearms, especially individuals like Saravia with a prior history of violence, is a priority for our office,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “Our federal and local partnership and collaboration plays a critical role in making our streets safer by preventing future acts of violence by this type of defendant.”
“Firearms in the hands of convicted felons pose a danger to all communities,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “We are pleased that we were able to work with our partners at the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office to remove Saravia from the streets of our community and put him in Federal prison.”
“This case is an example of how effective joint collaboration between local, state, and Federal government can be and in doing so come together to get a dangerous and violent offender off of our streets,” said Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: On May 2, 2021, a concerned citizen called 911 about a car blocking traffic in Toccoa, Georgia. Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene and encountered Saravia asleep at the wheel, and his vehicle in drive.
Deputies found a firearm in Savaria’s waistband when they removed him from the vehicle. Savaria was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions of Vehicular Homicide, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Methamphetamine.
Sentencing for Henry Jonathan Saravia, 35, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, has not been scheduled yet. Saravia pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.