SAVANNAH — Three defendants — two from Liberty County and one from Long County — have been sentenced in federal drug and gun cases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia announced Thursday.

Daniel Britton, 45, of Midway, was sentenced Wednesday to three years, five months in prison by U.S. Chief Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to transporting a firearm to Georgia from another state.

Laron Bruce, 35, of Riceboro, was sentenced Monday to 14 years, two months in prison by U.S. Judge William T. Moore Jr. after pleading guilty to his role in a crack cocaine conspiracy. 

Herbert Lewis, 27, of Ludowici, was sentenced Wednesday to nine years, two months in prison by Moore after pleading guilty to possessing a stolen firearm.  Lewis was in possession of the stolen firearm at the time he was arrested on outstanding warrants from Liberty County.

“The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to combating drug and gun related crime throughout the Southern District of Georgia,” U.S. Attorney Edward Tarver said. “The prison sentences in these Liberty County cases send a loud and clear message that dealing drugs and committing crimes involving guns will not be tolerated.”

Liberty County Sheriff Steve C. Sikes said, “I appreciate the efforts of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office deputies during the investigations of these three individuals. Dangerous criminals have been removed from our community through the cooperative efforts of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and our partners at the (U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) and the (Georgia Bureau of Investigation). We appreciate their assistance, and that of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in making our county a safer place to live.”

This case was investigated by the ATF, GBI and Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charlie Bourne, Thomas Clarkson, Gregory Gilluly and Scarlett Nokes prosecuted these cases on behalf of the federal government.