FBI Press Release
Atlanta Field Office
Gregory Jones, Special Agent in Charge

Contact: SA Stephen Emmett
Desk: (404) 679-6451
Cell:  (404) 392-2506

For Immediate Release
Monday, April 23, 2007

Columbus – Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Gregory Jones, FBI Atlanta, announces the arrest today of Larry Lightning, age 47, of Columbus, Georgia. Lightning, a 23 year veteran of the Columbus Police Department was arrested on Friday, April 20, 2007, without incident. Lightning is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine base, Extortion by a Public Official, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

Lightning will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Columbus, Georgia today at 2:00 p.m. for his initial appearance.

This investigation was conducted jointly by the Columbus, Georgia office of the FBI, the Columbus Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Metro Narcotics Task Force.

The public is reminded that all persons are to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.