Mafia Gang Founder Guilty of Illegal Firearm Possession, Faces Up to 15 Years

Alphonzo Clyde, the founder of the Mafia criminal street gang with a history of crime in Middle Georgia, faces up to 15 years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. Clyde, 45, of Macon, pleaded guilty to the charge before Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on April 10. He could also face three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing is set for July 3.

U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary emphasized the gang’s ties to violent crime and fentanyl distribution in the area, expressing law enforcement’s commitment to dismantling such criminal enterprises.

Court documents reveal Clyde’s role as the Mafia’s founder, operating in Middle Georgia and West Virginia. He was apprehended on Oct. 8, 2023, by officers from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Jones County Sheriff’s Office. During his arrest, officers found a handgun in his possession, alongside drug paraphernalia.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by collaborating with law enforcement and communities. The investigation involved the FBI, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, and Jones County Sheriff’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom prosecuting the case.