News from 2023


Federal jury returns verdict in two violent armed robberies

A 51-year-old Houston man has been convicted of two 2019 armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.


Drug Supplier for Gangster Disciples Sentenced in Counterfeit Prescription Pill Trafficking Conspiracy

Over 16,000 counterfeit prescription pills containing methamphetamine and oxycodone seized from defendant’s apartment


Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 120 Months Imprisonment Following Exchange of Gunfire With SWAT and Seizure of Narcotics

News Release: Salt Lake City, Utah - A Utah man was sentenced today to 10 years’ imprisonment for possessing and intending to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, where a SWAT officer and the defendant were shot and injured in the District of Utah.


California Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Offense Involving Two-Year-Old Child

News Release: WASHINGTON - Jacob David Dockter, 28, of Taft, California, was sentenced today to 140 months in prison for distribution of child pornography, followed by 120 months of supervised release.


South Bend Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison

News Release: SOUTH BEND - Xavier Zebulon Marzette, 39 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after being found guilty during a 2-day jury trial of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.


Georgia Man Who Supplied Bridgeport Gang Members With Firearms Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Prison

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEPHFAN SANDERSON, also known as “Birdy" and “Beans", 25, of Covington, Georgia, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 92 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking firearms into Connecticut.


Nurse Practitioner Convicted of Opioid Distribution Conspiracy

News Release: A federal jury convicted a Tennessee nurse practitioner last week for illegally prescribing opioids - including oxycodone and fentanyl - from his medical practice.


Man Convicted of Alexandria and Monroe Bombings Gets Sentenced

News Release: ALEXANDRIA, LA - Daniel Aikens, 40, of Alexandria, Louisiana, was sentenced March 28, 2023, to 16 years in prison for 8 counts of illegal explosive related charges by United States Senior District Judge Dee D. Drell announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. On Nov. 18, 2022, the jury found ...


Meridian Man Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

News Release: Jackson, Miss. - A Meridian, Mississippi man was sentenced to 77 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Kurt H. Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).


Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

News Release: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The sentencing took place on March 24, 2023.


St. Petersburg Man Arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance With Intent To Distribute

News Release: Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Erik Barner (44, St. Petersburg) with one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. If convicted, Barner faces up to 20 years in federal prison.


New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charge

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LA - LAIRD JOHNSON, age 24, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on March 23, 2023 to a five-count indictment alleging violations of the Federal Gun Control Act, Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 922(j), 922(u), 924(a)(2), and 924(i)(1), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.


Boston Men Indicted for Unlawful Trafficking of Machinegun Conversion Devices

News Release: BOSTON - Two Boston men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for illegally selling a dozen machinegun conversion devices.


Another Indicted in Connection to Armed Robbery of AR-Rifle

News Release: McALLEN, Texas - Three men have now been charged in connection of a hotel robbery of an AR-variant rifle, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.


Maryland Man Sentenced for Trafficking Firearms With Obliterated Serial Numbers

News Release: ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A Maryland man was sentenced today to 25 months in prison for trafficking firearms with obliterated serial numbers.


Sikeston Man Sentenced To Serve 125 Months in Federal Prison on Gun and Drug Charges

News Release: CAPE GIRARDEAU - The United States Attorney's Office announced that Cameron Melton Malone, age 30, of Sikeston, Missouri, was sentenced to serve a total aggregate sentence of 125 months in federal prison for the offenses of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession With Intent to Distribute Marijuana. Malone appeared for his sentencing hearing today before United States District Judge John A. Ross, at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.


Leader of Multi-Kilogram Cocaine Conspiracy Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

News Release: Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced James Mirabal (46, St. Cloud) to 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The court also ordered Mirabal to forfeit $124,598, traceable proceeds of the offense. Mirabal had pleaded guilty on Dec. 27, ...


Drug Trafficking, Pipe Bomb Possession Send Missoula Man to Prison for More Than Six Years

News Release: MISSOULA - A Missoula man who admitted to a drug trafficking crime after law enforcement found a backpack containing methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and a pipe bomb in his vehicle was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.


Pine Ridge Man Sentenced for Theft of Firearms and Assault on a Federal Officer

News Release: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Theft of Firearms and Assault on a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on March 24, 2023.


Eight Men Charged With Fentanyl Trafficking

News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - Eight men were charged today for their roles in a drug trafficking organization operating in and around Union County, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.