Georgiana Police officers, acting on a tip, were able to recover firearms reported as stolen 16 years ago. Jerris Don Booker, 47, of Booker Road, McKenzie, has been identified as the suspect in the case.

"Investigator Kenny Harden and Sgt. Alan Ward received information regarding the sale of some guns in the Georgiana area by Jerry Booker," said Chief James Blackmon.

"During the course of their investigation, a Remington model 1100 shotgun, and a Remington 30-06 rifle were recovered. An inquiry on the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer listed these two guns as being reported stolen from Conecuh County in April of 2002."

The investigation also produced a Browning .358 caliber rifle, which was reported stolen from a residence in the McKenzie area, also in April of 2002.

"The NCIC inquiry showed this rifle to have been stolen originally in Brewton, Ala. in 1986," Blackmon said. "A McKenzie resident, who the weapon was later stolen from, had purchased it in 1991."

According to Blackmon, the elderly man in McKenzie had previously purchased two firearms that were originally stolen from him in Georgiana.

"As part of the investigation, another firearm - an Ithaca 12-guage shotgun, was recovered. It was reported as stolen by a Hayneville, Ala. resident in 1997," he said. "Our investigation has identified Booker as the seller of these weapons. He is currently incarcerated in a federal penitentiary on a narcotics case from Montgomery, Ala."

Blackmon said his department has been working in conjunction with the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agency, a federal law enforcement agency specializing in firearms-related offenses.

ATF agents were scheduled to pick up the weapons and cases on Friday.