News from April 2023
Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years for Trafficking Nearly 150 Pounds of Drugs, Including Heroin, Fentanyl, and Marijuana
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: WASHINGTON - Linwood Douglas Thorne, 51, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy that resulted in one of the largest seizures of heroin in the District of Columbia’s history. The sentence, handed down March 31, 2023, by U.S. District ...
Tennessee Man Sentenced to Life Plus 10 Years in Prison for First-Degree Murder in the Death of His U.S. Army Soldier Wife at Fort Campbell
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: Louisville, KY - A Clarksville, Tennessee man, formerly of Jacksonville, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to life, plus 10 years, in prison for the Oct. 14, 2018, murder of his wife and shooting of another man at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Frederick County Sheriff and Gun Dealer Indicted for Scheme To Illegally Acquire Machineguns
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 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.
Nine-Time Convicted Felon Federally Indicted for Possession of a Firearm
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: Ocala, Florida -United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Brady Williams (27, Ocala) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Williams faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
Jacksonville Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 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.
South Florida Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Firearms Offense
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Cambrel Jamal Smart (29, Fort Lauderdale) to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Smart to forfeit the firearm and ammunition he illegally possessed. Smart had pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2022.
Previously Convicted Charles County Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms and Drug Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: Greenbelt, Maryland - Sean Donnelle Hawkins, age 48, of Marbury, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday federal charges related to his distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and firearms in Charles County, Maryland. During the investigation, Hawkins sold eight firearms to a law enforcement source, including four privately made semi-automatic firearms, known as “ghost guns."
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charge
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LA - LAIRD JOHNSON, age 24, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on March 23, 2023 to a five-count indictment alleging violations of the Federal Gun Control Act, Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 922(j), 922(u), 924(a)(2), and 924(i)(1), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.
Boston Men Indicted for Unlawful Trafficking of Machinegun Conversion Devices
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: BOSTON - Two Boston men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for illegally selling a dozen machinegun conversion devices.
Gary Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: HAMMOND- Modesto Ricard IV, 32 years old, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime and Arson for Setting Fire to Synagogue
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: A Texas man pleaded guilty today to a hate crime and arson in connection with a fire he set at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 31, 2021.
West Hartford Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution and Gun Possession Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 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.
Homicide Fugitive from Wisconsin Arrested in Phoenix
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: Phoenix, AZ - Members of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Task Force for the District of Arizona arrested a homicide fugitive following a vehicle stop April 6.
Los Angeles Businessman, Utah Fuel Plant Operators and Employees Sentenced to Prison for Billion-Dollar Biofuel Tax Fraud Scheme
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: Five individuals were sentenced this week to prison for their roles in a $1 billion biofuel tax conspiracy: Lev Aslan Dermen, aka Levon Termendzhyan, 56, was sentenced to 40 years; Jacob Kingston, 46, was sentenced to 18 years; Isaiah Kingston, 42, was sentenced to 12 years; Rachel Kingston, 67, was sentenced to seven years; and Sally Kingston, 45, was sentenced to six years.
Danville, Illinois, Man Charged With Carjacking Resulting in Death and Murder
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: URBANA, Ill. - A grand jury today returned a superseding indictment charging Kevin Marshall, 32, of Danville, Illinois, with allegedly carjacking and murdering Daniel Walter, a 28-year-old man from Williamsport, Indiana, on or about April 25, 2020. The superseding indictment also charges Marshall with ...
Straw Purchaser of Gun That Killed Detroit Police Officer Sentenced to Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 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.
Mississippi Resident Sentenced to Twelve Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A federal judge today sentenced a Mississippi resident for a carjacking that occurred in Moody, Alabama, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
Raceland Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 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, ...
Law Enforcement Agencies Announce Outcome of 90-Day Initiative Aimed at Decreasing Violent Crime
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives today joined the Winston-Salem Police Department, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, and other law enforcement partners to announce the results of a 90-day public safety initiative aimed at combating violent crime. The initiative helped area law enforcement seize narcotics, cash, and more than 70 firearms from across the Winston-Salem area.
Former Federal Correctional Officer Indicted for Sexual Abuse of an Inmate
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 8, 2023
News Release: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - Lenton Jerome Hatten, 54, of Tallahassee, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody. The indictment was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Hatten made his initial appearance in federal court to face the charge this afternoon.