July 30, 2012 - Gary Lenion McDonald, 36, from Statesboro, plead guilty Friday before Senior United States District Court Judge B. Avant Edenfield to his role in two separate kidnappings in the Bryan County area.

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver stated, "This defendant conspired with others to kidnap innocent victims at gunpoint and hold them for ransom. Those who commit terrifying acts of violence against our citizens can expect to be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent that the law allows. The highest priority of the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI and other federal and state law enforcement agencies is the protection of the American people."

According to evidence presented during the guilty plea, McDonald and others were involved in two separate kidnappings in the Bryan County area. The first kidnapping occurred on Dec. 1, 2011. During this incident, the victim was abducted at gunpoint and later released only after a ransom was paid. The second kidnapping occurred on Jan. 12, 2012. The second victim was also abducted at gunpoint and released only after a ransom was paid.

McDonald plead guilty to conspiring with others to commit kidnappings. He now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. McDonald remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending his sentencing. His sentencing will be scheduled after the U.S. Probation Office conducts a presentence investigation.

The case against McDonald resulted from a joint investigation by 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 Department, the Pooler Police Department, the Pembroke Police Department and the Hinesville Police Department.