LAKELAND —  A Lanier County man is among 15 defendants in separate federal firearms cases who have been either sentenced or are awaiting sentencing.

Darrell DeMarcus Golden, 31, of Lakeland, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement released Tuesday. Savannah police officers found a pistol in Golden’s backpack during an investigation at an arcade in downtown Savannah, the statement said.

“Removing guns from those who are prohibited from carrying them is a vital part of fighting violent crime,” said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We appreciate the efforts of our law enforcement partners in keeping our streets safe.”

The cases are prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI, to reduce violent crime with measures that include targeting convicted felons who illegally possess guns.

Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime.