News from April 2023


Retired ATF Special Agent Beeping Egg Mission Continues

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.


United States Drug Enforcement Administration publishes 74 press releases in February

There were 74 press releases published by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration in February.


Detroit Rapper Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms

News Release: DETROIT - Detroit rapper Marcellus Wallace, a/k/a “Baby Grizzley," was sentenced yesterday to 57 months in prison based on his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.


Gary Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison

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.


Honduran National Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of Firearms by an Alien Illegally and Unlawfully in the United States

News Release: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Elmer Enrique Amaya Gonzales, age 20, of Honduras, to 41 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession of firearms by an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States. Upon his release from prison, Gonzales will be removed from the United States and returned to his home country of Honduras.


Zephyrhills Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Making a Destructive Device

News Release: Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James John Hall (34, Zephyrhills) has pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully making a firearm (destructive device). Hall faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Hall has also agreed to forfeit the destructive device, which includes a pipe, Tannerite, pyrotechnic powder, and pyrotechnic fuse.


Raceland Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime

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, ...


Two Los Angeles Men Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy That Led to Murder

News Release: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK -Two men from Los Angeles, California, were sentenced yesterday for their roles in a conspiracy to acquire methamphetamine in California and distribute it in the Cortland, New York area, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge ...


MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison For a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including a Murder in Maryland

News Release: Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis today sentenced Jose Domingo Ordonez-Zometa, a/k/a “Felon," age 33, of Landover Hills, Maryland, to life in federal prison for racketeering and murder in aid of racketeering conspiracies, for committing murder in aid of racketeering, and for conspiracy...


Baltimore Eight Tray Gangster Crips Member Sentenced to Almost 20 Years in Federal Prison for Racketeering and Drug Conspiracy Charges

News Release: Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Devon Powell, a/k/a “Smuppy," age 32, of Baltimore, today to 235 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for racketeering and drug conspiracy charges, related to his activities as a member of the Eight Tray Gangster (ETG) Crips gang in Baltimore.


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.


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.


Danville, Illinois, Man Charged With Carjacking Resulting in Death and Murder

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 ...


Maryland MS-13 Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Participating in a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Two Murders

News Release: Greenbelt, Maryland - Franklyn Edgardo Sanchez, a/k/a “Freddy," “Magic," “Miclo," and “Delinquente," age 26, of Adelphi, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to his participation in a racketeering conspiracy, including two murders, related to his activities as part of the MS-13 gang.


Grand Jury Returns Two Indictments

News Release: MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.


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.


High-Level Member of Chicago Gang Sentenced to 10 Years for Conspiring to Distribute Heroin

News Release: CHICAGO - Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago Field Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois announced the sentencing of a high-level member of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang to 120 months, plus eight years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute wholesale quantities of heroin on the West Side of Chicago.


Ansonia Man Admits Stealing and Selling Catalytic Converters

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.


Gary Man Sentenced to 2 Consecutive Terms of Life in Prison

News Release: HAMMOND- Hailey Gist-Holden, age 28, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philp P. Simon after a jury found him guilty of armed bank robbery, and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during that bank robbery. The jury specifically found that, as part ...


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.