News from April 2023
Raceland Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DAMER SMITH, age 46, of Raceland, Louisiana, pled guilty on April 4, 2023 to Count Three (3) of the indictment, charging him with Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, ...
West Hartford Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution and Gun Possession Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAYVIAN RODRIGUEZ, 25, of West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 126 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.
East Hartford Man Admits Role in Catalytic Converter Theft Ring
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
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.
ATF National Response Team Joins Chicago Fire Department in Fire Investigation
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: CHICAGO - The Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives requested ATF’s National Response Team join the investigation into a fire that occurred Tuesday early morning that claimed the life of a Chicago Firefighter and where two others sustained nonlife threatening injuries at 12015 South Wallace in Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood.
Straw Purchaser of Gun That Killed Detroit Police Officer Sentenced to Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: DETROIT - A Detroit man was sentenced today to two years in prison for purchasing a Draco pistol for his friend, Ehmani Davis, who would go on to use the firearm in the killing of Detroit Police Officer Loren Courts, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.
Podiatrist and Patient Recruiter Convicted for $8.5 Million Compounding Fraud Scheme
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: A federal jury convicted two Texas men today for their role in a scheme to fraudulently bill TRICARE - the health care program for U.S. service members and their families - for compounded creams that were medically unnecessary and procured through kickbacks and bribes.
40 Officers of China’s National Police Charged in Transnational Repression Schemes Targeting U.S. Residents
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: Two criminal complaints filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York were unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging 44 defendants with various crimes related to efforts by the national police of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) - the Ministry of Public Security ...
Five Men Indicted on Federal Charges for Illegal Firearms Possession
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
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.
Justice Department discusses Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection of eComments Requested; Reactivation Suitability Request-ATF Form 3252.5 on April 17
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
The US Justice Department published a one page notice on April 17, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.
Billings Man Admits Armed Robbery Charges in Carjacking
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: BILLINGS - A Billings man admitted to robbery and firearms crimes today after he was accused of stealing a car at gunpoint in Billings and leading law enforcement on a chase into Big Horn County, where he was arrested, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Alleged Firearm Traffickers Arrested in ATF Bust
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: Three men accused of selling guns illegally were arrested in an ATF takedown on Wednesday, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993-Consortium for Rare Earth Technologies discussed on April 17 by Justice Department
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
The US Justice Department published a one page notice on April 17, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.
Two Arrested for Operating Illegal Overseas Police Station of the Chinese Government
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: A complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging two defendants in connection with opening and operating an illegal overseas police station, located in lower Manhattan, New York, for a provincial branch of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) of the People’s Republic of...
Ansonia Man Admits Stealing and Selling Catalytic Converters
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that FRANCISCO AYALA, 22, of Ansonia, has pleaded in Hartford federal court to offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring.
Retired ATF Special Agent Beeping Egg Mission Continues
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: WASHINGTON - For 16 years, ATF Special Agent David Hyche has been on a mission to ensure his daughter, Rachel, and other people with special needs can gain independence and increase participation in activities most of us take for granted. Specifically, an Easter egg hunt. Now retired from ATF and serving as the Chief of the Calera Police Department in Alabama, Hyche continues to pursue that mission.
Frederick County Sheriff and Gun Dealer Indicted for Scheme To Illegally Acquire Machineguns
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Charles Austin Jenkins, age 66, of Thurmont, Maryland, and Robert Justin Krop, age 36, of Frederick, Maryland, with conspiracy and false statements in order to acquire machineguns. Krop is also charged with illegal possession of machineguns. No court appearance is scheduled for the defendants at this time.
Two Las Vegas Felons Sentenced to Prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: LAS VEGAS - Two convicted felons and Las Vegas residents were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey for unlawful possession of firearms and for their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. Nicholas Eddards was sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Justin Chester was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
President of Metalhouse LLC Indicted for Sanctions Evasion and International Money Laundering
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: The Justice Department announced today the indictment and arrest of John Can Unsalan, aka Hurrem Can Unsalan, the president of Metalhouse LLC, for engaging in a three-year scheme to violate U.S. sanctions against oligarch Sergey Kurchenko and two of Kurchenko’s companies by providing those sanctioned parties with over $150 million in return for steelmaking materials.
Jacksonville Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: Jacksonville, Florida - U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Terry Lenard Shipman (48, Jacksonville) to five years and five months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Shipman had pleaded guilty in December 2022.
Falls Church Man Sentenced for Possessing Unregistered Silencers
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 18, 2023
News Release: ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A Falls Church man was sentenced today to 3 years in prison for unlawful possession of unregistered silencers.