News from April 2023


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.


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.



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.


Jackson Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Carjacking

News Release: Jackson, Miss. - A Jackson man was sentenced to serve 57 months for carjacking and 84 months for brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, for a total of 141 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.


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 ...


North Dakota Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking of a Delivery Truck

News Release: MINNEAPOLIS - A Devils Lake, North Dakota man has been sentenced to 136 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for carjacking a man at gunpoint in Blaine, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.


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.


Former Employee Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Molotov Cocktail Attack on St. Charles Restaurant

News Release: ST. LOUIS - A disgruntled former employee of a St. Charles, Missouri restaurant who attacked it with Molotov cocktails was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison.


Kenner Man Indicted for Federal Gun and Drug Offenses

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - ALTON GRAYSON, age 37, a resident of Kenner, Louisiana, was charged on April 14, 2023 in a three-count indictment for violating the Federal Gun Control Act and the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.


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.


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.


International Firearms Dealer Involved in $2 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison

News Release: Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Daniel Ira Johnson (35, Orlando), a/k/a “Shotta" a/k/a “Lajon Black," to seven years and six months in federal prison for shipping firearms to the United Kingdom and committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 unemployment insurance relief. Johnson had pleaded on Dec. 27, 2022.


Bronx, New York, Man Sentenced to 43 Years in Prison for Multistate Kidnapping, Assault, and Arson Rampage

News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - A Bronx, New York, man was sentenced today to 516 months in prison for a multistate crime spree during which he kidnapped and sexually assaulted his former girlfriend, assaulted a federal employee, set fire to a used car dealership, and rammed multiple police vehicles before being apprehended, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.


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 ...


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.


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.


Cherry Hill Gang Member Sentenced to Over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Participating in Racketeering Conspiracy Including Murdering an Individual Believed To Be a Rival Gang Member

News Release: Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, today sentenced Travis Alewine, a/k/a “Sticks," age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 253 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise in connection with his membership in the “Hillside" gang, operating in the Cherry Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. Alewine admitted that as part of his gang activities, he participated in a murder.


Prison Escapee Sentenced to 10 Years for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Charge Resulting From Shooting of Farmington Police Officer

News Release: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced today that Elias Buck was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 10 years in prison. Buck, 24, of Aztec, New Mexico, pleaded guilty on Dec. 8, 2022, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.


Member and Associate of Newark Street Gang Charged With Unlawful Possession of Machinegun Used in Shooting of Three People

News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - A member of a Newark street gang made his initial court appearance today on firearms charges related to the shooting of multiple victims, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.