Macon Man Sentenced to Life Plus Five Years After Jail Escape and Drug Trafficking Conviction

A Macon man who escaped from the Bibb County Jail in 2023 while awaiting federal sentencing for armed drug trafficking has been sentenced to life plus five years in prison.

Johnifer Dernard Barnwell, also known as “Whoop” and “Malixe,” 38, was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base; and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in Case No. 5:22-CR-00009.

Barnwell also received a five-year sentence for one count of escape from custody in Case No. 5:23-CR-62-001. U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal issued the sentence on March 11.

Barnwell escaped from the Bibb County LEC, a facility contracted by the U.S. Marshals Service, on Oct. 16, 2023, with the assistance of several individuals. He was captured in Augusta on Nov. 12, 2023, by FBI agents and Bibb County Sheriff’s Office deputies. During his arrest, Barnwell was allegedly found in possession of an AK-47 rifle with a loaded magazine, a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with 14 rounds, a .45 caliber pistol with a loaded magazine, an extended capacity magazine, a drum magazine, 23,000 grams of methamphetamine, and more than 3,200 grams of fentanyl.

The case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom prosecuted the case.