News from August 2023


Florida Couple Indicted for Multiple Federal Firearms Violations

News Release: OCALA, Fla. - U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of a 39-count indictment charging Kingsley Wilson, 35, of Kissimmee and Viviana Rodriguez, 41, of Kissimmee with dealing in firearms without a license, making a materially false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL) ...


Girlfriend of California Source of Fentanyl Conspiracy Sentenced to 9 Years

News Release: ABINGDON, Va. - A California woman, who helped her boyfriend ship thousands of pressed fentanyl pills to members of a Southwest Virginia drug dealing conspiracy, was sentenced yesterday to nine years in federal prison.


Lansing Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Illegal Gun Possession

News Release: GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Davion Shymarri Shaltry, 19, of Lansing, Michigan, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. Shaltry will be on supervised release for three years after he is released from prison.


Arsonist Pleads Guilty to Fire Bombing Donut Hole

News Release: TULSA, Okla. - A Tulsa man who firebombed a popular donut shop with a Molotov Cocktail pleaded guilty today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.


ATF National Response Team To Investigate Buffington Farms Fire

News Release: CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arrived on-scene Wednesday to join agents from the Cape Girardeau, St. Louis and Fairview Heights ATF Offices in investigating a large fire that destroyed parts of Buffington Farms in Williamsville, Missouri.


Leesburg Man Sentenced for the Unlicensed Sale of Firearms

News Release: ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A Leesburg man was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for selling at least nine firearms, for a profit and without a license, that he originally purchased from Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in the Eastern District of Virginia.


Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing Firearms Without a License

News Release: HATTIESBURG, Miss. - A Columbia man pled guilty to manufacturing firearms without a license issued under federal law, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.


Grand Prairie Man Sentenced to Federal Prison in Connection With Donut Shop Robberies

News Release: SHERMAN, Texas - A second man has been sentenced to federal prison in connection with a string of violent home invasion type robberies in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.


Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Discharge of a Weapon Resulting in Death Related to a Murder-For-Hire

News Release: Baltimore, Maryland - Tyrik Braxton, a/k/a “Son-Son," age 25, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death, in connection with a murder-for-hire conspiracy.


Activity in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Wyoming

News Release: Firearm Offenses. Joshua Charles Crook, 34, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced on August 17 to 40 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence, which includes three years of supervised release and a $100 special ...


Citrus County Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Multiple Firearms

News Release: Ocala, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Timothy James Roberts (28, Hernando) has pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered National Firearms Act (NFA) weapon-a short-barreled shotgun-and two counts of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Roberts faces a maximum ...


Oregon Felon Sentenced to More Than Six Years for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Possession

News Release: Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Katherine Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Johnathan Thuemler (32, Oregon) to six years and five months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Thuemler had pleaded guilty on May 15, 2023.


Bradenton Man Arrested for Robbing Tampa Business With Firearm

News Release: Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Devon Floyd (31, Bradenton) with one count of Hobbs Act robbery. If convicted, Floyd faces up to 20 years in federal prison.


Fort Myers Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a Convicted Felon

News Release: FORT MYERS, Fla. - U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Deshon G. Walker, 26, of Fort Myers today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Walker faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.


Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of an Unregistered Silencer

News Release: HATTIESBURG, Miss. - A Columbia man pled guilty to possession of a silencer that was not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.


Two Radcliff Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Robbery

News Release: LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Two Radcliff men were sentenced this week for interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.


California Man Sentenced to 26 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Guns in Eastern Idaho

News Release: POCATELLO - Ramon Morales Jr., 41, of Compton, California, was sentenced to 26 years in federal prison for importing and distributing methamphetamine in Eastern Idaho in exchange for firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit today.


New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Gun Control Act

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MICHAEL CRAWFORD, age 27, from New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court on one count of Possession of a Firearm After a Felony Conviction, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).


New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Gun Control Act

News Release: NEW ORLEANS - Melvin Walker, 35, a resident of Westwego, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 37 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for violating the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. On May 11, Walker pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).


Final Defendant in Red Lake Arson Case Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

News Release: MINNEAPOLIS - A Red Lake woman has been sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for her role in an arson conspiracy on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.