DOJ Newswire News


Federal Grand Jury Indicts New Orleans Man for Kidnapping and Federal Gun Offense

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on May 5, 2023 MERVIN AMACKER, Jr., age 41, was charged in a two-count indictment for kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a firearm.


St. Cloud Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

News Release: ORLANDO, Fla. - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Robert J. Potocnack (42, St. Cloud) has pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.


Violent Felon Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison After Being Found Armed With a Machinegun and Unconscious in a Running Vehicle on I-465

News Release: INDIANAPOLIS- Michael Parham, 31, of Indianapolis, Indiana has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.


Cape Girardeau Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Possessing Machine Gun

News Release: CAPE GIRARDEAU - U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Monday sentenced a man from Cape Girardeau, Missouri who was caught with a fully automatic Glock pistol to 51 months in prison.


Fentanyl and Meth Dealer Sentenced to 15+ Years

News Release: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - A U.S. District sentencing judge ordered a Cahokia Heights man to spend 15 years and eight months in federal prison after he admitted to distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine and possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute the drugs in St. Clair County, Illinois.


Wise County Meth Distributor, Who Possessed Firearms, Sentenced to Over 15 Years

News Release: ABINGDON, Va. - A Wise County, Virginia man, was sentenced last week to more than 15 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms.


Essex County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possessing Two Loaded Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for drug trafficking and firearms possession in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.


Phoenix Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery Spree That Ended in High-Speed Chase in Which He Opened Fire on Law Enforcement

News Release: RIVERSIDE, California - An Arizona man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for committing armed robberies of nine stores in Southern California and Arizona during a crime spree last summer that ended in a high-speed chase in which he fired upon federal agents and, after police rammed his car, he accidentally shot himself under his chin.


Violent Child Predator Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Failing To Register as a Sex Offender After Moving to Southern Indiana

News Release: NEW ALBANY- Franklin Gomar, 42, of Kentucky, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm and failing to register as a sex offender.


Chicago Man Arrested, Charged for Manufacturing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

News Release: CHICAGO - Sheila Lyons, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago Field Division, announced that Allen Dean, 30, Chicago, has been charged with one felony count of manufacture of controlled substances, 900 or more grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The charges were approved by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.


Madison Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking

News Release: MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Roland J. Scott III, 21, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 8 years in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more ...


Federal Grand Jury Indicts New Orleans Man for Federal Gun Offense

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on May 12, 2023, KEILEN HAWKINS, age 25, was charged in a one-count indictment being a felon in possession of a firearm.


North Fort Myers Man Indicted for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon

News Release: Fort Myers, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Chester Lewis Risco, III (19, North Fort Myers) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Risco faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Risco that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.


Communities Across Arizona Turn in Over 3.5 tons of Unneeded Prescription Medications to Prevent Drug Misuse

News Release: PHOENIX - On April 22, 2023, DEA and its law enforcement partners came together once again to protect our communities from prescription misuse by safely disposing of 663,725 pounds of unneeded medications at nearly 5,000 collection sites across the country.


Las Vegas Resident Sentenced to Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl and Possession of Machine Guns

News Release: LAS VEGAS - A Las Vegas man was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva to 6 ½ years in prison followed by four years of supervised release for selling machine gun conversion devices and thousands of pills laced with fentanyl.


Mission Man and Mellette County Woman Sentenced in Burglary and Homicide Case

News Release: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man and a Mellette County, South Dakota, woman, in a case that involved charges of Second Degree Murder, First Degree Burglary, and related firearms offenses.


New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Gun and Drug Offenses

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NATHANIEL WILLIAMS, age 27, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on May 12, 2023 in a three-count indictment for violating the Federal Gun Control and Federal Controlled Substances Acts, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.


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.


Clay County Man Indicted on Firearm and Drug Charges

News Release: Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Edward Sherwood Gustafson, IV (30, Green Cove Springs) with two counts of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance involving methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession ...


Tehama County Man Indicted for Dealing in Firearms and Related Offenses

News Release: SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A federal grand jury returned a 39-count indictment Thursday against James Lane Winslett, 65, of Corning, charging him unlawful manufacturing and dealing in firearms, engaging in the business as a dealer in firearms without registering or paying tax, unlawful sales of firearms to prohibited persons, and multiple counts of possessing unregistered firearms, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed today.