DOJ Newswire News


Fugitive Task Force Arrests Columbus Murder Suspect in Houston, Texas

News Release: Columbus, OH - The U.S. Marshals in the Southern District of Texas arrested fugitive Evan Jones on June 1, 2023, on an outstanding arrest warrant from Franklin County, Ohio. Jones also had a supervised release violation arrest warrant from the United States District Court in the Southern District of Ohio.


ATF Provides Clarification Related to New Minnesota Marijuana Law

News Release: ST. PAUL, Minnesota - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives provides clarification for gun owners and potential gun owners who may be considering using marijuana given Minnesota’s recent ease on marijuana restrictions, drawing attention to the distinction between state and federal law.


Three-Month Campaign To Reduce Violent Crime Results in Seizure of 165 Firearms and 29 Prosecutions for Gun, Drug and Violent Crimes

News Release: SAN DIEGO - Law enforcement officials today announced that a three-month campaign to reduce violent crime in San Diego County has resulted in the seizure of 165 firearms - including 82 privately-made weapons known as “ghost guns" - and the prosecution of 29 people.


Aurora Man Found Guilty of Carjacking

News Release: DENVER - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Odifu Odifu, age 27, of Aurora, was found guilty of carjacking, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.


Four KC Metro Men Indicted for Illegally Trafficking Machineguns, Other Firearms

News Release: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Three Kansas City, Mo., men and an Independence, Mo., man have been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally selling machine guns and other firearms, some of which have been linked to prior shootings.


Foreign National Charged for $1.8M Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

News Release: An indictment was unsealed today in the Central District of California charging a California businessman for allegedly soliciting investments under false pretenses and using investors’ funds to support his own lavish lifestyle.


Twenty Charged in Federal and State Court for Drug Conspiracy

News Release: WILMINGTON, Del. - David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Devon Reed of New Castle, DE, Dawann Reed of Clayton, DE, Gregory Carter of Wilmington, DE, Jaywann Saunders of New Castle, DE, Quincy Clark of New Castle, DE, Eduardo Felix of San Diego, CA, Monyae Fields-Brown ...


Louisiana Man Indicted for Shipping Firearms to New York

News Release: ALBANY, NEW YORK - Rodell Patterson, age 51, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was indicted today on charges that he engaged in the firearms business without a license, sold firearms to a person he knew to be a convicted felon, and unlawfully sold firearms to a resident of another state.


Muskegon Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Destructive Device

News Release: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that Casey Richard Newman, 40, of Muskegon, Michigan was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff for knowingly possessing a destructive device. Destructive devices, ...


New Haven Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Offense

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JACKIE BROWN, 43, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 92 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing ammunition.


Drug Dealer Sentenced to 70 Months for Attempted Drug Sale at Arizona Mills Mall

News Release: PHOENIX, Ariz. - Steve Lugo Leon, 24, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow to 70 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Leon pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 40 Grams or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Fentanyl.


Federal Indictment Charges 7 With Gun and Narcotics Trafficking

News Release: LOS ANGELES - Federal and local authorities this morning arrested six defendants, the majority of whom are members of the El Sereno Rifa street gang, on federal weapons and narcotics charges stemming from a nearly yearlong undercover operation in which authorities purchased approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine and 47 firearms, including ghost guns and so-called “cop killer" handguns.


Federal Judge Convicts Billings Felon of Illegal Possession of Firearm

News Release: MISSOULA - A federal judge today convicted a Billings felon of illegally possessing a firearm after a bench trial, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.


Schenectady Felon Sentenced for Firearms Possession

News Release: ALBANY, NEW YORK - Larry Peterkin, age 46, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.


Life in Federal Prison for Pope County Drug Trafficker Associated With White Supremacist Gang

News Release: LITTLE ROCK- Marcus Millsap, 55, of Little Rock, was sentenced to life in federal prison for conspiracy to violate racketeering laws, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Millsap was sentenced earlier today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.


ATF’s National Response Team Deploys to South Carolina Apartment Fire Investigation

News Release: WASHINGTON - The Charlotte Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives requested ATF’s National Response Team join the investigation into the May 26 structure fire at the Tropical Ridge Apartments in Columbia, South Carolina.


North Dakota Man Sentenced to Prison for Armed Fentanyl Trafficking in Great Falls Area

News Release: GREAT FALLS - A North Dakota man who admitted to trafficking fentanyl in the Great Falls community after law enforcement found hundreds of fentanyl pills and a loaded firearm in a vehicle he was driving, was sentenced today to five years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.


Cooperation Between United States and Mexican Law Enforcement Leads to Mexican Takedown of Significant Firearms Trafficker

News Release: TUCSON, Ariz. - Michel Bacasegua-Barriga, the leader of a prolific transnational firearms trafficking organization operating in Nogales, Sonora, along the U.S.-Mexico border, was arrested last week by Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office, Fiscalía General de la República (FGR). The enforcement operation ...


New Orleans Man Indicted for Arson and Possession of Destructive Devices

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today the unsealing of a two-count indictment returned on May 5, 2023, that charged RICKY WILSON, age 29, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, for violation of the National Firearms Act.


Former New Mexico House of Representatives Candidate Charged for Shooting Spree

News Release: An indictment was unsealed today in the District of New Mexico charging a former candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives for a shooting spree targeting the homes of four elected officials.