Macon Woman Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Aiding Jail Escape of Convicted Felon
Janecia Green, a 31-year-old resident of Macon, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in assisting a convicted felon and others to escape from the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) in 2023. U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal handed down the sentence on October 16, which also includes three years of supervised release following her prison term. Green’s sentence is three times longer than the top of her federal sentencing guidelines, and there is no parole in the federal system.
“Janecia Green put our entire community at risk when she chose to help Johnifer Barnwell and several other dangerous convicted felons escape from the Bibb County Jail,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This sentencing illustrates the serious consequences facing those who help criminals evade justice.”
FBI Atlanta’s Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Robert Gibbs also emphasized the gravity of Green’s actions, stating, “The FBI hopes the sentence sends a strong message to others that those who try to aid prisoners will be brought to justice.”
According to court documents, Barnwell, a convicted felon, was awaiting sentencing after being convicted of armed drug trafficking in October 2023. He was housed at the Bibb County LEC, a facility contracted by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to house federal inmates.
On October 13, 2023, Green purchased tools, including a four-pound mallet and an electrician chisel, which were smuggled into the jail by Christian “Twin” Williams, an associate of Barnwell’s. These tools were used to create an opening in the jail wall, allowing Barnwell and three other inmates to escape on October 16, 2023.
Barnwell was later apprehended on November 12, 2023, in Augusta, Georgia. During his capture, law enforcement recovered an AK-47 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, a .45 caliber pistol, and over 23,000 grams of methamphetamine, along with 3,200 grams of fentanyl.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom prosecuted the case.
Bibb County Sheriff David Davis praised the efforts of the investigators and federal partners, stating, “The sentence handed down on Janecia Green illustrates the severe penalty for assisting a convicted felon and others in escaping the Bibb County Jail.”
