Public safety summary
Steve Lavon Biggins, 33, of Savannah was convicted Tuesday by a federal jury after a two-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge B. Avant Edenfield for transporting a minor with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, production of child pornography, and transportation of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Edward Tarver said: “This defendant misrepresented his identity and age through his conversations with a girl he met online in order to gain her trust. He developed a relationship with her, transported her across the Southeast in a tractor-trailer, engaged in illegal sex acts, and took photographs of that activity in violation of numerous federal laws. These acts are deplorable, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office aggressively prosecutes individuals, like this defendant, who are involved in such predatory acts towards our children. Biggins’ arrest rescued one victim, and his conviction will help protect other children from such future predatory acts.”
Ricky Maxwell, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “This conviction brings with it a strong reminder that there are dangerous individuals out there that will exploit and harm our children. The FBI is not only pleased with the jury’s verdict but also with the combined law enforcement response in getting a dangerous individual such as Mr. Biggins off of our streets.”
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Biggins, a 33-year-old truck driver posing as a man in his 20s named “Rodney,” engaged in text and telephone communications with a girl under the age of 16 with whom he initiated contact through the mobile application Tagged.com.
After developing an in-person relationship with the victim, and without the knowledge of the girl’s parents, in July 2013 Biggins took the child on short-haul trips that spanned seven days, and included travel to South Carolina, Tennessee and North Carolina before returning to Georgia. While on the trip he engaged in sexual conduct that violated the laws of each state he entered, and photographed the same. Upon his return trip through Millen, Biggins was stopped and immediately arrested by law enforcement officers. He has remained in custody since that time.
Biggins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (and a maximum of life), for the transportation of a minor charge; 15 to 30 years on the production of child pornography charge; and five to 20 years on the transportation of child pornography charge.
Each charge also carries a fine of up to $250,000, and between five years and life of supervised release. Biggins remains in custody pending his sentencing hearing. A sentencing date will be scheduled following completion of a pre-sentence investigation and report.
Pedestrian killed Thursday on I-95
A pedestrian was killed Thursday evening when the person was struck by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 in Pooler.
Georgia State Patrol troopers were investigating the about 6:20 p.m. wreck on I-95 southbound beneath the Quacco Road overpass.
GSP officials did not have any additional information late Thursday about the incident that closed one lane and slowed traffic in the area for several hours.
Man busted at airport with 45 pounds of pot
Local drug agents Thursday arrested a man at the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport after about 45 pounds of marijuana were found in his checked luggage.
Adrian Zachery was charged with trafficking marijuana after Chatham County Sheriff’s Department K-9 detected the presence of narcotics in two of his three suitcases, said Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics agent Sgt. Mark Lupus, the agency’s spokesman. CNT Agents, after being denied permission to search the Atlanta man’s luggage, received a search warrant and found the marijuana worth about $180,000 in vacuum sealed bags inside the suitcases.
Lupus said Zackery was traveling from San Jose, Calif. to Savannah via Atlanta. He was transported to the Chatham County jail where he was awaiting his arraignment scheduled for Friday.
Potentially rabid cat sought in Liberty Co.
A potentially rabid cat has escaped a Liberty County home where a family dog had recently tested positive for rabies, Liberty County health officials said Thursday.
The Liberty County Environmental Health office is asking people to exercise caution in the Cook Road are of Fleming where the predominately white cat had been a family pet before it fled into the woods Wednesday after displaying sings of aggression, said Sally Silbermann, spokeswoman for the Coastal Health District.
Officials are trying to find the animal, she said.
Anyone who sees the cat is urged to stay away from it and contact Liberty County Animal Control at 912-876-9191 or the Liberty County Health Department Environmental Health Division at 912-368-5520.
Compiled by Josh Rayburn and Corey Dickstein