Convicted Felon Sentenced to 7 Years After Gun Threat at Riverdale Restaurant

ATLANTA, Ga. — A convicted felon who threatened employees and police officers with a gun inside a Riverdale restaurant has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison, authorities announced.

Lee Milton Reeves, 40, of Mechanicsville, was sentenced on March 26, 2026, and will serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Reeves previously pleaded guilty on December 17, 2025, to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

According to federal prosecutors, the incident occurred on March 17, 2024, when Riverdale Police responded to reports of a man with a gun at a fast-food restaurant. Officers found Reeves barricaded in a bathroom, where he pointed a firearm at them.

Investigators later determined that the day before, Reeves had fired the same weapon inside a trailer occupied by a mother and daughter.

“This case shows precisely why convicted felons are prohibited from possessing guns,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Had Reeves pulled the trigger, this case could have ended in tragedy.”

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives emphasized the agency’s focus on removing illegal firearms from the community.

“The sentence imposed today sends a clear message to convicted felons prohibited from possessing firearms,” Todd said. “ATF will continue working with our law enforcement partners to target individuals who unlawfully possess firearms.”

The case was investigated by the ATF with assistance from the Riverdale Police Department and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Hwang prosecuted the case.