News from September 2023
Melvin Hill Convicted by Jury on Federal Drug and Firearms Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: BURLINGTON, Vt. - The U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Melvin Hill, 44, of Tignall, Georgia, was convicted yesterday in U.S. District Court in Rutland on five drug and gun charges after a week-long jury trial. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered that Hill remain in jail pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. Hill has been held without bail since his arrest in March 2022.
Worcester Man Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: BOSTON - A Worcester man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Providence Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm and Drug Trafficking Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A Providence man admitted to a federal judge today that in February 2021, while he was detained at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) on unrelated charges, he arranged by telephone with his then girlfriend to locate and sell a firearm that he illegally possessed and took steps to continue running his established drug trafficking business.
Clay County Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Shawntae Jamell Clark, 44, of Clay County has pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Clark faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 ...
Fort Myers Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Cocaine
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: FORT MYERS, Fla. - U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Keith Dewayne Drayton Jr., 27, of Fort Myers today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine. Drayton faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for the firearm offense and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the drug offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
ATF National Response Team To Investigate Buffington Farms Fire
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
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.
Cincinnati Man Pleads Guilty to Murder of Convenience Store Owner, 5 Armed Robberies
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: CINCINNATI - A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to using a firearm to commit murder and other crimes of violence. The parties involved have recommended a sentence of up to 45 years in prison for the defendant, who shot and killed the owner of Madeira Beverage in February 2021.
Four From Peoria Charged With Conspiring To Steal Firearms From Licensed Dealers in Spring Valley, Taylorville, Le Roy, Lincoln, Decatur, and Bloomington
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: PEORIA, Ill. - A federal criminal complaint filed Aug. 21 charges four people from Peoria, Illinois, with conspiring to steal firearms from six different locations in central Illinois between Aug. 14 and 18. Terrence Daniels, 23, Dezmond Hardy, 22, Erika Garner, 21, and Shaleik Ward, 19, are each charged ...
Fort Myers Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a Convicted Felon
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
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.
Prior Felon Going to Prison on Gun Charge
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Paul Pringle, 44, of Hilton, New York, who was convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of an Unregistered Silencer
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
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.
Violent Detroit Street Gang Indicted on RICO Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: DETROIT - Members of a violent Detroit gang were indicted on various federal charges including racketeering conspiracy, trafficking controlled substances, firearm charges and unemployment insurance fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing Firearms Without a License
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
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.
Previously Convicted Felon Caught On Snapchat Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Drug Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: BOSTON - A member of the Boston street gang “D Street" pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing multiple firearms and ammunition while a convicted felon and while he was under house arrest for a state firearm charge.
Federal Jury Convicts Zachary Man of Multiple Drug and Gun Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: BATON ROUGE, La. - U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr. announced the conviction of Jeremy Dewayne Hawkins, 43, of Zachary, Louisiana. After a three-day trial before Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick, the jury unanimously convicted Hawkins of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.
Jury Convicts Binghamton Felon and Escapee of Illegally Possessing a Firearm
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: UTICA, N.Y. - On Friday evening, a jury voted to convict Charles Harrison, 34, of Binghamton, New York, of being a felon in possession of a firearm, following a 4-day trial in Utica.
Alabama Man Sentenced to Over 26 Years in Prison for Robberies and Firearm Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: JACKSON, Miss. - An Anniston, Alabama, man was sentenced to 314 months in prison for two counts of robbery, two counts of using or carrying a firearm in connection with crimes of violence and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Orlando Man Sentenced to More Than Nine Years for COVID-19 Fraud and Illegal Possession of Firearm
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: ORLANDO, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Brian A. Blake, 31, of Orlando to nine years and eight months in federal prison for access device fraud, aggravated identity theft and possession of a firearm by convicted felon. As part of the sentence, the court also ordered Blake to pay ...
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms Possession
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - A Hot Springs man was sentenced yesterday to 90 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in Hot Springs.
New Haven Man Who Committed 5 Gunpoint Robberies of New Haven Store Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 4, 2023
News Release: NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Jermaine Cannon, 20, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 162 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for robbery and firearm offenses related to his commission of five gunpoint robberies of the same New Haven business during a six-week period in 2021.