Savannah Man Sentenced to Nearly 50 Years for Drug, Firearm, and Jury Tampering Charges

Malik Javier McKenzie, 27, of Savannah, was sentenced on July 22, 2025, to a cumulative 595 months in federal prison for convictions related to drug trafficking, possession of a machine gun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and jury tampering.

Following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court, McKenzie was found guilty of Possession of Controlled Substances With Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Machinegun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. During the trial, McKenzie attempted to influence a juror through a third party by offering payment for a not guilty verdict. The attempt was detected, and no contact was made with the juror. McKenzie later pled guilty to Obstruction of Justice for this conduct.

Chief Judge R. Stan Baker ordered McKenzie’s sentences to run concurrently with each other but consecutively to a 71-month sentence McKenzie is currently serving for an earlier drug trafficking conviction, and an 18-month sentence for violating supervised release terms from a 2019 federal conviction. McKenzie will also serve five years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Malik McKenzie is a repeat offender who refuses to learn from his past mistakes,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “This time, he tried to undermine our entire judicial system by attempting to bribe a juror in his trial. We are thankful for our federal and local partners for stopping this attempt and helping put this criminal behind bars for the next 49 plus years.”

Acting DEA Atlanta Division Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung emphasized the agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and associated violence.

ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka highlighted the importance of multi-agency collaboration in fighting drug trafficking and violent crime.

The investigation was part of Operation Take Back America and the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. The case was investigated by the ATF, DEA, FBI, and Hinesville Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley R. Thompson.