WILKINSON COUNTY, Ga. — An investigation into a violent extremist group in California led federal investigators to a then-deputy in Georgia.
Cody Richard Griggers, 28, of Montrose, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count possession of an unregistered firearm on Monday.
As part of a California investigation into a man making violent political statements on social media, FBI agents discovered a group text with Griggers, who was then a deputy with the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office.
In the group text, authorities said Griggers made statements that he was manufacturing and acquiring illegal firearms, explosives and suppressors. Federal investigators said he also expressed viewpoints consistent with racially motivated violent extremism, including the use of racial slurs, slurs against homosexuals and making frequent positive references to the Nazi Holocaust.
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On November 19, 2020, agents executed a search warrant at Griggers’ home and searched his patrol car. Inside his duty vehicle, officers said they found multiple firearms, including a machine gun with an obliterated serial number. The machine gun was not issued to him, and he was not allowed to have the weapon in his law enforcement car. An unregistered short barrel shotgun was found in his home.
In all, between his home and duty vehicle, officers said they found 11 illegal firearms.
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“This former law enforcement officer knew that he was breaking the law when he chose to possess a cache of unregistered weapons, silencers and a machine gun, keeping many of them in his duty vehicle. Coupled with his violent racially motivated extreme statements, the defendant has lost the privilege permanently of wearing the blue,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to thank the FBI, ATF and Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office for their work investigating this case.”
Griggers faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for July 6. There is no parole in the federal system. Griggers was detained at his pretrial hearing and remains in custody.
“All law enforcement officers swear an oath to uphold the law and protect each and every citizen they serve,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Griggers clearly violated his oath with his egregious actions and has no place in law enforcement.”
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