DOJ Newswire News


Felon Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Crimes and Gloucester County Shooting

News Release: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A Gloucester man was sentenced yesterday to 35 years in prison for drug, firearms, witness tampering and retaliation and obstruction of justice convictions.


New Britain Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Distribution and Firearm Possession Offenses

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAFAEL MARTINEZ, 31, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 108 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release for fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.


Lee County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Firearm as a Convicted Felon

News Release: Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Clayton Mack Rhodes (45, Fort Myers Beach) to seven years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The court also ordered Rhodes to forfeit the firearm and ammunition he possessed during the offense. Rhodes had pleaded guilty on August 9, 2022.


Five Men Indicted on Federal Charges for Illegal Firearms Possession

News Release: SAVANNAH, GA: Five defendants are among those facing federal charges including illegal possession of firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences related to illegal gun possession.


Three Members of Caribbean Arms Trafficking Ring Plead Guilty

News Release: Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Tevin OBrian Oliver (30, Homestead), Jameal Kaia Phillip (30, Trinidad and Tobago), and Edward Soloman King III (31, Tampa) have pleaded guilty to federal charges. Oliver and Phillip pleaded to conspiracy to smuggle goods from the ...


New Orleans Man Sentenced on Federal Carjacking and Weapons Charges

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that defendant KEON ESTEEN, age 18, was sentenced on April 13, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Barry W. Ashe to a total term of 130 months. As to Count 1 the court sentenced ESTEEN to 46 months of imprisonment. As to Count 2, the court ...


ATF National Response Team Joins Oklahoma City Church Fire Investigation

News Release: WASHINGTON - The Dallas Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives requested ATF’s National Response Team join the investigation into a church fire that occurred Monday morning at 7200 S. Walker Ave. in Oklahoma City.


New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violations of the Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances Acts

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - On April 11, 2023, BURNEAL ELLIOTT, age 21, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty to a four-count indictment for possession of a machinegun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.


High Level Member of Chicago Gang Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring To Distribute Heroin

News Release: CHICAGO - A high-level member of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang has been sentenced to 120 months, plus eight years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute wholesale quantities of heroin on the West Side of Chicago.


Leesburg Convicted Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

News Release: Ocala, Florida - Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Timothy Eric Evans (41, Leesburg) under the Armed Career Criminal Act to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the handgun and ammunition used in the offense. Evans had pleaded guilty on June 8, 2022.


Middleburg Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Ammunition

News Release: Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Cody Mack McCormick (35, Middleburg) today pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition as a convicted felon. McCormick faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.



Citrus County Man Found Guilty of Possessing a Short-Barrel Rifle

News Release: Ocala, Florida - Senior U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has found David Robinson, Jr. (24, Tampa) guilty of possessing an unregistered National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm. Robinson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2023. Robinson had been indicted on Oct. 11, 2022.


Brooksville Man Found Guilty of Possessing Firearm as an Armed Career Criminal

News Release: Ocala, Florida - Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has found Wayne Allen Phillips, Jr. (45, Brooksville) guilty of one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon. Phillips qualifies for an increased penalty under the Armed Career Criminal Act. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2023. Phillips had been indicted on March 29, 2022.


East Hartford Man Admits Role in Catalytic Converter Theft Ring

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that BRYANT BERMUDEZ, 31, of East Hartford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring.


Federal Grand Jury Indicts Man for Illegally Possessing Two Machine Guns

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - XAVIER DUHON, age 20, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on April 14, 2023 in a one-count indictment for possession of machine guns, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.


Red Lake Felon Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Firearm Possession, Fentanyl Distribution

News Release: DULUTH, Minn. - A Red Lake man has been sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.


Great Falls Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms

News Release: GREAT FALLS - A Great Falls man who admitted to illegally possessing firearms while on supervision for prior felony convictions was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.


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 ...


Falls Church Man Sentenced for Possessing Unregistered Silencers

News Release: ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A Falls Church man was sentenced today to 3 years in prison for unlawful possession of unregistered silencers.