News from June 2023


Boyd County Man Sentenced to 262 Months for Armed Drug Trafficking

News Release: ASHLAND, Ky. - An Ashland man, Gary R. Rowe, 49, was sentenced on Monday to 262 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning for armed drug trafficking charges.


Owner of Firearm Used in Shooting of Newport News Teacher Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Firearm Possession

News Release: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A Newport News woman pleaded guilty today to illegally obtaining and possessing a firearm and making a false statement on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) form to purchase the firearm.


Committee Releases FY24 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill

On June 22, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2024 bill for the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee.


Former Long Beach First Responder Sentenced to More Than 29 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Crimes, Including Selling Fentanyl That Resulted in Coworker’s Fatal Overdose

News Release: LOS ANGELES - A former first responder who worked at a Long Beach hospital was sentenced today to 352 months in federal prison for selling fentanyl to two of his co-workers who thought they were buying cocaine, one of whom later died of an overdose after ingesting the powerful opioid.


Jury Convicts Alabama Man of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Conspiracy

News Release: Gulfport, Miss. - On June 14, 2023, a federal jury convicted Curtis Navelle Harrison, 45, of Monroeville, Alabama, of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and less than 40 grams of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF").


Committee Approves FY24 Defense Bill

On June 22, the Full Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2024 bill for the Defense Subcommittee.


Committee Approves FY24 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Bill

On June 22, the Full Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2024 bill for the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee.


Five Tennessee Law Enforcement Officers Graduate From the FBI National Academy

News Release: Five Tennessee Law Enforcement Officers Graduate From the FBI National Academy.


Four Indicted For St. Petersburg Drug Conspiracy

News Release: Tampa, Florida -United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Eric L. Lemon (44, New Port Richey), Eric Lekent Lemon, Jr. (20, St. Petersburg), Dominic Giannantonio (46, St. Petersburg), and Tryon Metteria Byrd IV (43, St. Petersburg) with conspiring to possess ...


Firearms Trafficker, Drug Dealer Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison

News Release: ROANOKE, Va. - A Maryland man who sold seven silencers and 800 counterfeit prescription pills to undercover officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), was sentenced yesterday to 72 months in federal prison.


Madison Man Sentenced for Participating in Straw Purchase of Firearms

News Release: MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Isaiah Phillips, 18, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 60 days in jail for aiding and abetting a false statement during a purchase of a firearm. The period of incarceration will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Phillips pled guilty to this charge on March 14, 2023.


Philadelphia Man Arrested for Distribution of Cocaine Base

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Rockylane Lewis, aka “Rizzo,” 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been charged with the distribution of cocaine base. Lewis was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Rutland, Vermont. Lewis appeared today for his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle and was ordered detained pending trial.


Pasco Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Drug Trafficking and Possession of a Firearm

United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Tustuji Matu Wakauwn, 43, of Pasco, Washington, to 15 years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a felon.


Fentanyl Distributors Charged Following Fourth Fatal Juvenile Overdose

Dallas, TX - Two distributors who supplied the fentanyl that killed a 15-year-old girl in Carrollton last week have been federally charged, announced Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas.


District Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Offenses

News Release: WASHINGTON - Demetrius Green, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for gun and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge is Craig B. Kailimai, and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department.


Seven Members of Multi-State Violent Robbery Crew Indicted on Conspiracy and Hobbs Act Robbery Charges

News Release: WASHINGTON - An indictment was unsealed today charging seven members of an armed robbery crew with conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, and other charges related to a multi-state robbery spree that targeted pharmacy and cell phone retail stores. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Sarah Linden, of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Divisions.


Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm and Distribution Quantities of Fentanyl

News Release: Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Eugene Washington, Jr. (36, Bradenton) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams more of fentanyl. Washington faces a maximum penalty of 55 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.


Federal Jury Convicts St. Paul Felon for Illegal Possession of a Firearm Following Bar Shootout

News Release: ST. PAUL, Minn. - A federal jury found a St. Paul man guilty of illegally possessing a firearm following a shootout at a St. Paul bar, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.


New Britain Man Admits Stealing and Selling Catalytic Converters

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERTO ALICEA, 31, of New Britain, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring.


Chairman Jordan Demands Transcribed Interview from former Biden Digital Director on White House's Social Media Censorship Scheme with Big Tech

Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) sent a letter to Robert Flaherty, former Director of Digital Strategy for the Biden White House, demanding a transcribed interview as part of the Committee's investigation into the role the White House played in colluding with big tech companies and other intermediaries to censor disfavored speech.