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A LaGrange man has been sentenced to serve 20 years in prison after a negotiated plea deal for drug trafficking and firearm offenses, according to a press release from District Attorney Herb Cranford.

Earlier this week, Andre Tmorris Ransom pled guilty to trafficking amphetamine, possession of amphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, use of a firearm by a convicted felon during the commission of another felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In a second indictment, Ransom pled guilty to possession of a prohibited item by an inmate.

In accordance with the plea agreement, the Coweta Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge John Simpson sentenced Ransom to 30 years with the first 20 years to be served in prison. Assistant District Attorney Connor Dooley prosecuted the case. Sgt. Matthew Fowler and Investigator Jarrod Anderson of the LaGrange Police Department served as lead investigators.

According to the press release, the charges resulted from a traffic stop initiated in LaGrange on Nov. 25, 2018. In the incident, Fowler initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Ransom for rolling through two stop signs and failing to maintain a lane of travel.

Upon making contact with Ransom, Fowler detected a strong odor of marijuana and conducted a search of the vehicle and passengers, locating over an ounce of amphetamines, a handgun, and marijuana. While being held at the Troup County Jail for those offenses, Ransom attempted to conduct transactions involving drugs and firearms over recorded phone calls that were gathered by Anderson.

Deputies with the Troup County Sheriff’s Office also found a makeshift stabbing weapon, commonly referred to as a “shank,” that Ransom attempted to conceal.

Previously Ransom was found guilty by a Troup County jury of armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced to 15 years with the first 10 to be served in prison. Approximately one year after being released from state prison in 2017 for his role in a 2007 armed robbery and aggravated assault with a firearm, Ransom was arrested again in this November 2018 incident .

“Rather than take advantage of job openings at seemingly every law-abiding business in our community, this defendant chose to violate the law and prey on amphetamine addicts to make money,” District Attorney John Cranford Jr. said. “Because he made this choice and because addicts deserve to be protected from predatory drug dealers, the District Attorney’s Office negotiated a 20 year prison sentence in this case. Drug dealers with a history illegal gun possession and violence should expect the same when caught in the Coweta Judicial Circuit.”