News from September 2023
Prior Felon Going to Prison on Gun Charge
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 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.
USDOJ-OJP-BJA offers new grant application process starting Sept. 12
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 2023
BJA FY 23 Invited to Apply2;Administrative Funding Adjustments to BJA Previously Funded Awards 6 grant opened on Sept. 12.
Previously Convicted Charles County Felon Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison on Firearms and Drug Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 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 ...
Cincinnati Man Pleads Guilty to Murder of Convenience Store Owner, 5 Armed Robberies
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 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.
Lehigh Acres Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Firearm and Drug Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 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 Felon Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Firearm and Ammunition
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 2023
News Release: BOSTON - A Lawrence man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Previously Convicted Felon Caught On Snapchat Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Drug Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 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.
Fort Myers Man Pleads Guilty to Murder-for-Hire
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 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.
Ringleader and Key Co-Defendant Sentenced to Prison for Leading Beckley-to-Philadelphia Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 2023
News Release: BECKLEY, W.Va. - Bisheem Jones, aka “Bosh," 37, of Philadelphia was sentenced today to 25 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for leading a scheme to traffic over 140 firearms from southern West Virginia to Philadelphia. Shyheem Woodard-Smith, aka “Peanut" and “Nut," 23, of Philadelphia, was also sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for his key role in the gun trafficking conspiracy.
Manchester Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing, Manufacturing and Selling Firearms
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 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.
Federal Jury Finds St. Cloud Man Guilty of Illegal Possession of Firearms
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 2023
News Release: ST. PAUL, Minn. - A federal jury found a St. Cloud man guilty of illegally possessing multiple firearms as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Exporting Firearms to Ghana
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 2023
News Release: Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Eric Nana Kofi Ampong Coker, age 41, of Columbia, Maryland today to 30 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for the illegal export of firearms to Ghana.
Fort Worth Shooting Suspect Sentenced to 10 Years for Gun Crime
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 2023
News Release: DALLAS - A Fort Worth man who allegedly shot through the door of a local home, hitting an 82-year-old woman in the chest, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Fort Myers Felon Headed Back to Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Loaded Rifle
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 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 Haven Man Who Committed 5 Gunpoint Robberies of New Haven Store Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 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.
Hyannis Man Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 2023
News Release: BOSTON - A Hyannis man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for unlawfully possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.
Fort Myers Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Cocaine
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 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.
Baton Rouge Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Control Act Offense
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 2023
News Release: NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on Aug. 29, Carlsel Alexander, 28, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment, charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 2023
News Release: FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Kevin T. Leshore, 30, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Five Men Charged With Using New York Diamond District Companies As Front To Illegally Move More Than $600 Million
By DOJ Newswire | Sep 12, 2023
News Release: NEWARK, NJ. - Five men who work in New York City’s Diamond District were arrested today and charged with illegally processing more than $600 million through unlicensed money transmitting businesses, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division Cheryl Ortiz and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.