District Attorney Paul Howard Announces Guilty Plea from Former Fulton Sheriff’s Deputy

Former Deputy Gregory McDevitt Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Robbery

Atlanta—Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. (Atlanta Judicial Circuit) announces that, following his guilty plea, former Fulton County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Gregory S. McDevitt (33) has been sentenced to five years in prison and fined $2,500. McDevitt pleaded guilty to robbery and violation of oath by public officer.

On 26 June 2004, McDevitt robbed Saul Flores Ramirez (22) near his home in northeast Atlanta by use of intimidation. Then, on 7 July, the defendant not only assaulted and robbed Mr. Ramirez again at gunpoint but also Daniel B. Cruz (26) and Fulgencio Ramirez (27) in their neighborhood near the Lindbergh MARTA Station.

“Were it not for the fact that, following these assaults, many of our victims and witnesses returned to Mexico, making it extremely difficult and quite costly to locate and return them to Fulton County, we would almost certainly have proceeded to trial in this case and sought a far stiffer penalty upon conviction,” says Mr. Howard. “No one, including law enforcement officers, is going to be allowed to take advantage of Hispanic citizens in Fulton County and get away with it.” Senior Assistant District Attorneys Phyllis Clerk and Kellie Stevens Hill of the Public Integrity Unit prosecuted the case. Investigators Winston Barksdale and Cameron Crandall, along with Detective A. Flores of the Atlanta Police Department, investigated, and Judge Marvin Arrington presided.

CONTACT: Erik Friedly, 404.224.0560 (office); 770.583.6069 (pager); erik.friedly@co.fulton.ga.us