Columbus Man Sentenced to 15+ Years for Gun and Drug Offenses, Including Possession of Untraceable Ghost Gun

A Columbus resident with a history of criminal activities, identified as 31-year-old Quintavius Harrow, also known as “Cootie,” has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for gun and drug-related offenses. The sentence, totaling 189 months, was handed down by U.S. District Judge Clay Land on December 19, with an additional five years of supervised release.

Harrow pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and illegal possession of a machine gun on August 15. Notably, he is not eligible for parole.

The case involved Harrow’s possession of a privately-made and untraceable machine gun, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun.” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary emphasized the dangerous combination of Harrow’s possession of such a firearm while engaging in the distribution of methamphetamine, stating that combating gun violence and preventing the proliferation of ghost guns remains a top priority for law enforcement.

The FBI, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Harrow on March 18, 2022, during which he was filmed with an AR-15 styled pistol. Subsequent investigations led to the execution of a search warrant at a residence associated with Harrow, resulting in the discovery of illegal drugs, firearms, and the same untraceable AR-15 style pistol, now identified as a “ghost gun.”

The Columbus Police Department and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office were actively involved in surveilling Harrow’s activities. Previous incidents on March 6, 2020, revealed Harrow’s involvement in drug-related offenses, including the possession of a stolen HK 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine.

Harrow’s criminal history includes charges for robbery by intimidation in Muscogee County, Georgia, Superior Court, and the use of a gun with an altered identification mark in Chattahoochee County, Georgia, Superior Court.

The investigation and prosecution of this case were part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, aimed at reducing violent crime through evidence-based strategies and collaboration among various stakeholders. The case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbus Police Department, with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).