Macon Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charge After Probation Violation Arrest

Terico Jaques Balkcom, 46, of Macon, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on March 31, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Marc T. Treadwell. Balkcom faces up to 15 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, Balkcom was stopped by the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) on May 20, 2024, for having an obscured license plate. A trooper detected the odor of alcohol and conducted a field sobriety test. Balkcom provided a false ID under the name “Benjamin Brown,” but when questioned about his date of birth, he gave a date different from the one listed on the identification. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agent who was familiar with Balkcom arrived at the scene and confirmed his identity.

Balkcom was taken into custody for violating state probation stemming from a 2018 conviction in Bibb County Superior Court for crossing state or county guard lines with weapons, intoxicants, or drugs without consent. During a search of his vehicle, officers found a 9mm pistol inside a Crown Royal bag containing his prescription medication. They also recovered three ounces of marijuana. While in jail, Balkcom was recorded discussing the firearm and the drugs.

“It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “Our office is collaborating with our law enforcement partners to hold repeat convicted felons accountable when they are found violating federal law.”

GBI Director Chris Hosey added, “Ensuring public safety is our top priority. The GBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable who violate the law, especially those with a history of criminal behavior.”

Balkcom has multiple prior felony convictions and probation violations in Bibb County Superior Court.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at targeting illegal immigration, dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime through the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case.