News from September 2023
Bridgeport Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Charge
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Luis Garcia, 25, of Bridgeport pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a racketeering charge stemming from his participation in a violent Bridgeport street gang.
Lehigh Acres Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Firearm and Drug Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: FORT MYERS, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Louis Michael Pasquazzi, 53, of Lehigh Acres to 18 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and for possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute it. The court also ordered Pasquazzi to forfeit the firearms and ammunition he illegally possessed. Pasquazzi had previously pleaded guilty on April 26.
Previously Convicted Charles County Felon Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison on Firearms and Drug Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Sean Donnelle Hawkins, age 48, of Marbury, Maryland, yesterday to 138 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, on charges related to his distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and firearms in Charles ...
Straw Purchasers Charged With Buying 100+ Guns Trafficked to Mexico
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: DALLAS - A group of straw purchasers who allegedly bought more than 100 firearms later trafficked to Mexico has been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Justice Department Proposes New Regulation to Update Definition of “Engaged in the Business” as a Firearms Dealer
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today announced it has submitted to the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking that would clarify the circumstances in which a person is “engaged in the business" of dealing in firearms and thus required to obtain a license and run background checks. The ...
Federal Jury Convicts Zachary Man of Multiple Drug and Gun Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 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.
Readout of Administrator Liz Ryan’s Visit to Baton Rouge to Announce Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Grant to Southern University Law Center
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: Liz Ryan, Administrator of the Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, this week visited Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she announced a $250,000 grant award to Southern University Law Center. The OJJDP award will support the center’s work to help the Louisiana...
Worcester Man Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 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.
Fort Myers Man Pleads Guilty to Murder-for-Hire
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: FORT MYERS, Fla. - U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Marvin Harris Jr., 25, of Fort Myers, aka “Mesh," today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate murder-for-hire resulting in death and interstate murder-for-hire resulting in death. Harris faces a minimum mandatory sentence of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
New Haven Man Who Committed 5 Gunpoint Robberies of New Haven Store Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 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.
Convicted Felon Arrested for Attempting To Trade Fentanyl for Four Firearms
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: BOSTON - A Quincy man was arrested yesterday for allegedly distributing fentanyl to obtain four firearms while a convicted felon.
Amarillo Drug Dealer Charged With Possession of 76 Firearms, 54 Glock Switches
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: DALLAS - An Amarillo drug dealer with an arsenal of 76 firearms and 54 Glock switches was indicted on federal drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms Possession
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 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.
Jacksonville Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Antoine Danielle Pearson Jr., 28, of Jacksonville to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He was also ordered to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense. Pearson pleaded guilty on May 24.
Memphis Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Armed Carjacking
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: MEMPHIS, Tenn. - On Sept. 1, a federal judge sentenced the second of two men involved in an armed carjacking that occurred at a Memphis apartment complex in January 2022. Wesley Richardson, 21, of Memphis was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for his role, said Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. U.S. District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla also ordered Richardson to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
Oldsmar Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Narcotics Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Sean Peter Brewer, 32, of Oldsmar has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Brewer faces ...
Cincinnati Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl, Cocaine
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: CINCINNATI - A Cincinnati man who was convicted at trial in December 2021 of trafficking narcotics was sentenced in federal court here today to 204 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release.
Fort Myers Felon Headed Back to Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Loaded Rifle
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: FORT MYERS, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Javonte Keyon Whitfield, 25, of Fort Myers to four years and nine months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Whitfield to forfeit the firearm and ammunition possessed during the offense. Whitfield had been found guilty by a federal jury on May 11.
New Britain Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Federal Prison for Stealing and Selling Catalytic Converters
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Roberto Alicea, 31, of New Britain was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 54 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring.
Manchester Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing, Manufacturing and Selling Firearms
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 11, 2023
News Release: NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that Andrew Francoeur, 36, of Manchester, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant to 33 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for offenses related to his illegal possession, manufacture and sale of firearms.