Fifteen-Time Violent Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Possession

ATLANTA – Quartez Rashad Goodman, a multi-convicted felon and domestic abuser who robbed two women at gunpoint, discharged a pistol near a playground after beating a dog, and engaged police in an armed standoff in a southwest Atlanta park, has been sentenced to federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm. “While on state probation for another felon-in-possession offense, Goodman repeatedly fired a gun in a city park and used that weapon to rob two women, frighten parkgoers, and threaten police officers,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The brave men and women of the Atlanta Police Department who apprehended Goodman performed their duty admirably. But because Goodman was undeterred by the state criminal justice system, federal prosecution was necessary to remove this repeat offender from the community and protect the public.” “Guns in the wrong hands are just plain wrong and will not be tolerated,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “So much trauma and damage has stemmed from the actions of one person. I commend the responding officers for stopping a very dangerous situation.” “This sentence sends a clear message that violent, repeat offenders who endanger our neighborhoods will be held accountable,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “This federal sentence removes a dangerous individual from our community. Our priority is protecting the community and keeping dangerous individuals off our streets through strong partnerships with our law enforcement partners.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On May 21, 2024, more than a dozen police officers responded to D.H. Stanton Park in Atlanta, Georgia, where witnesses reported that a shirtless individual later identified as Quartez Rashad Goodman was beating a dog and fired a gun in the park. Additional officers arrived and located Goodman near a splash pad with a pistol in his hand. Although he threatened the officers when first encountered, Goodman ultimately tossed his weapon and was apprehended while officers tried to render lifesaving aid to the dog, who had been fatally shot. Before officers arrived, Goodman assaulted two women who had been bicycling on the Beltline Trail near the park. Goodman approached the women while brandishing a firearm, demanded that one of the women give him everything she had, and stole that woman’s bicycle as she fled from Goodman. Goodman has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple convictions for violence against women, violence against law enforcement, weapon possession, and drug trafficking: Between 2008 and 2013, Goodman was convicted of selling cocaine, stealing a car and leading deputies on a high-speed chase that resulted in a crash, possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, receiving stolen property, obstructing law enforcement, and using a brick to smash the windows of a woman’s car. In 2013, Goodman struck a police officer with handcuffs, choked another officer, hit a third officer in the mouth, fought two others, intentionally hurt his grandfather, and punched another man in the face. Goodman was convicted of five counts of obstructing law enforcement officers by violence, three counts of battery, and one count of family violence battery. In 2015, while on probation, Goodman was convicted of battering a woman. A year later, Goodman pled guilty to battering the same woman again. According to the indictment in that case, Goodman struck the woman on the head with a nail gun, dragged her by the hair, pushed her face into the mud, threatened to kill her, and bit her. In July 2019, Goodman chased after an ex-girlfriend, stomped on her, pulled her hair, and pointed a gun at her head. When another man intervened, Goodman charged at him with a gun. Goodman was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, battery, and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony. Prior to 2024, Goodman had been prosecuted by local authorities exclusively, and he had never served more than one year of confinement for any of his 15 prior felony convictions. Most of his Fulton County Superior Court sentences were probated, suspended, or commuted to time served. By contrast, all federal sentences must be served without the possibility of parole.