News from July 2023


U.S. Attorney and Federal Partners Address Gun Violence and Firearms Trafficking in Connecticut

News Release: U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery and the leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Violent Crimes and Narcotics Unit convened a series of meetings last week with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to discuss continuing strategies to curb gun violence and firearms trafficking in Connecticut.


South Bend Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison

News Release: SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Kevin Brazier, Jr., 45, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.


Bridgeport Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Gun While on Supervised Release

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Giovanni Candelario, 30, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 65 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm while on federal supervised release.


Madison Felon Sentenced to 6 Years for Possessing a Firearm

News Release: MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Donquil D. McLemore, 20, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 6 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. McLemore’s sentence will be followed by 3 years of supervision. McLemore pleaded guilty to this charge on Feb. 17, 2023.


Moravia Man Sentenced to 41 Months for Unlawfully Possessing a Short-Barreled Rifle

News Release: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Duane Hollenbeck, 54, of Moravia, New York, was sentenced today to serve 41 months in federal prison for possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle.


Clearwater Felon Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm

News Release: TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Deion R. Brown, 27, (Clearwater) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court also ordered Brown to forfeit the firearm used in the offense. Brown had pleaded guilty on Aug. 30, 2022.


Woman Pleads Guilty to Arson of Clinic

News Release: Lorna Roxanne Green, 22, pled guilty to arson of a building used in interstate commerce, specifically the Wellspring Health Access Clinic located in Casper, Wyoming. Green entered her guilty plea before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on July 20, 2023. She was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the hearing.


Rochester Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison

News Release: SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Justin Overholser, 40, of Rochester, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after pleading guilty to theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee, announced U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.


Janesville Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Multiple Armed Robberies & Brandishing a Firearm

News Release: MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Devonti Wilson, 38, Janesville, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 13 years in federal prison for armed robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. This prison term will be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Wilson pleaded guilty to these charges on March 21, 2023.


Former University of Arizona Student Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

News Release: TUCSON, Ariz. - Jonathan Edward Mayer, 22, of Tacoma, Washington, was sentenced on June 30, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 84 months in prison. Mayer previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, ...


Schenectady Felon Sentenced to 72 Months for Possessing Fentanyl and Cocaine Base for Distribution, and for Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

News Release: ALBANY, NEW YORK - Charles J. Whorley, age 35, formerly of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for possessing and intending to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.


Independence Man Pleads Guilty to Dealing Firearms Without a License

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - On July 11, 2023, RICHARD LUDWIG II, age 74, of Independence pleaded guilty for dealing firearms without a license in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(a)(1)(A) and 924(a)(1)(D), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.


Clay County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a Sawed-Off Shotgun

News Release: JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Dylan Milton Jarvis, 31, (Orange Park) to one year and four months in federal prison for unlawful possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act firearm (sawed-off shotgun). Jarvis was found guilty after a bench trial on April 25.


Ansonia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing and Selling Catalytic Converters

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FRANCISCO AYALA, 22, of Ansonia, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring.


Billings Felon Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearm After Accidental Shooting

News Release: BILLINGS, Mont. - A Billings man with a felony conviction was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a gun after he accidently shot a person and fled, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.


Federal Jury Convicts Pensacola Armed Fentanyl Trafficker

News Release: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA - Marcus D. Flintroy, 32, of Pensacola, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury Wednesday afternoon on two counts of distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The guilty verdict was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.


Columbia Falls Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearm

News Release: MISSOULA, Mont. - A Columbia Falls man with multiple felony convictions was sentenced on July 20 to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a loaded shotgun, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.


The White House and the First Amendment

News Release: Remember that time in July of 2021 when President Joe Biden accused Facebook of killing people because it wasn’t censoring discussion of Covid vaccines as aggressively as he wanted-and then took days to retract his allegation? Now the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee reports new documents from Facebook parent Meta showing a pattern of White House pressure on the social-media firm in the months leading up to the President’s outburst.


Peoria, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm as a Felon

News Release: PEORIA, Ill. - A Peoria, Illinois, man, Denzel L. Jordan, 29, of the 1200 block of North University Street, was sentenced on July 20, 2023, to 40 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition, to be followed by three years of supervised release.


Danville, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon as an Armed Career Criminal

News Release: URBANA, Ill. - A Danville, Illinois, man, Alvin Beasley, 38, was sentenced today to 300 months of imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release, after being convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon following a jury trial in September 2021.