PEMBROKE, GA (WTOC) -
A Pembroke man was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday for two separate kidnappings in Bryan County.
Gary Lenion McDonald, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnappings, and cooperated in the investigation and prosecution of codefendants Antonio Lamont Murray and Cecil DeWitt Nelson.
Murray and Nelson were sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the kidnappings.
McDonald, Murray and Nelson conspired to commit two separate kidnappings in Bryan County in late 2011 and early 2012.
On Dec.1, 2011, a victim was abducted at gunpoint, beaten and held for ransom. The victim was released when it was paid. On Jan. 12, 2012, another victim was abducted at gunpoint. That victim was also only released after a ransom was paid.
McDonald was sentenced to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and ordered to pay an estimated $500,000 in restitution to the victims.
"The kidnappings committed by this defendant and others caused extreme pain and harm to victims they targeted. Because of timely action by the FBI and its partners in the law enforcement community, the United States Attorney's Office was able to prosecute those responsible. The United States Attorney's Office will continue to have as its highest priority the protection of U.S. citizens," said U.S. Attorney Edward J. Tarver in a statement.
The convictions of McDonald, Murray and Nelson were the result of an investigation that involved the FBI, the U.S. Marshals, NCIS, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Patrol, the Bryan County Sheriff's Office, the Tattnall County Sheriff's Office, the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, the Liberty County Sheriff's Office, the Richmond Hill Police Dept., the Pooler Police Dept., the Pembroke Police Dept. and the Hinesville Police Dept.
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