DOJ Newswire News


Federal Jury Convicts Two Men for Conspiring To Transfer Unregistered Machinegun Conversion Devices Disguised as “Pen Holders”

News Release: Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury today found Kristopher Justinboyer Ervin (43, Orange Park) and Matthew Raymond Hoover (39, Wisconsin) guilty of conspiring to transfer unregistered machinegun conversion devices that they referred to as “Auto ...


Barren County Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Possessing With the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Illegal Possession of Firearms

News Release: Bowling Green, KY - A Barren County, Kentucky, man was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.


Activity in the United States Attorney’s Office

News Release: Firearm Offenses. James Paul Stokes, age 49, of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The government requested 46 months’ imprisonment. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced Stokes to 33 months in prison with three ...


Rapid City Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

News Release: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 24, 2023.


Clay County Man Convicted of Unlawfully Possessing a Sawed-Off Shotgun

News Release: Jacksonville, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Dylan Milton Jarvis (31, Orange Park) has been found guilty of unlawful possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act firearm (sawed-off shotgun), following a bench trial. Jarvis faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and forfeiture of the sawed-off shotgun seized by law enforcement during their investigation. The case is set for sentencing on July 24, 2023.


Canton Man Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon

News Release: Jackson, Miss. - A Canton man was sentenced to 63 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.


Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine and Gun Charges

News Release: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christian G. Cruz, 25, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.


D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge

News Release: WASHINGTON - Rodney Burton 35, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting SAC Michael Weddel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Robert J. Contee III, of the Metropolitan Police Department.


Largest International Operation Against Darknet Trafficking of Fentanyl and Opioids Results in Record Arrests and Seizures

News Release: Today, the Department of Justice, and its Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team and international partners, announced the results of Operation SpecTor, which included 288 arrests - the most ever for any JCODE operation and nearly double that of the prior operation. Law enforcement ...


Bristol Man Involved in Gun Trafficking Scheme Sentenced to Prison

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSHUA BENTZ, 39, of Bristol, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for illegally trafficking firearms from South Carolina to Connecticut.


Columbia County Convicted Felon Indicted on Narcotics and Firearms Charges

News Release: Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Kristofferson Farmer, Jr. (22, Lake City) with possessing with the intent to distribute alpha-PVP (a.k.a. flakka) and fentanyl, both controlled substances. Additionally, he was charged with ...


Pair Accused of More St. Louis Carjackings

News Release: ST. LOUIS - Two men from East St. Louis, Illinois who were already facing federal charges related to a carjacking in November have been accused of more.


New Haven Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Offense

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYRIQ MARTIN, 22, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford 15 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing ammunition.


Former Bank VP Admits to Arson and Bank Fraud

News Release: BENTON, Ill. - A former vice president and loan officer for Community First Bank of the Heartland in Mount Vernon admitted in federal court in Benton on Friday morning to multiple acts of arson and bank fraud.


Duval Man Pleads Guilty to Lying on a Federal Form While Attempting To Purchase a Firearm While Subject to an Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence

News Release: Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Dr. Rakesh Verma (46, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federal firearms dealer. Verma faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.


Eight Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to Five Years’ Imprisonment for Possessing Loaded Firearm

News Release: Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Niko Wimbley (30, Tampa) to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Wimbley had pleaded guilty on Jan. 12, 2023.


Moline Man Sentenced to Twenty Years in Prison for Heroin Distribution and Related Gun Crimes

News Release: PEORIA, Ill. - A Moline, Illinois, man, Cordero Harris, 34, was sentenced on April 26, 2023, to 240 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm as a felon.


Two Butte Men Sentenced to Prison for Drug Trafficking, Firearms and Money Laundering Crimes

News Release: MISSOULA - Two Butte men convicted in a large armed drug trafficking operation that brought pounds of methamphetamine and other drugs to the Butte community and laundered proceeds were sentenced today to prison terms, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.


Former Mississippi Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the United States

News Release: A former Mississippi tax preparer pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States by preparing false tax returns.


Oklahoma City Man Charged With Setting Fire to Local Church

News Release: OKLAHOMA CITY - Yesterday, a criminal complaint was unsealed that charges OSCAR REYNALDO GOMEZ, 54, of Oklahoma City, with arson of the God of No Limits Church located at 7200 South Walker Avenue, in Oklahoma City, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.