News from 2023


Cherry Hill Gang Member Sentenced to Over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Participating in Racketeering Conspiracy Including Murdering an Individual Believed To Be a Rival Gang Member

News Release: Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, today sentenced Travis Alewine, a/k/a “Sticks," age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 253 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise in connection with his membership in the “Hillside" gang, operating in the Cherry Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. Alewine admitted that as part of his gang activities, he participated in a murder.


ATF National Response Team Joins Oklahoma City Church Fire Investigation

News Release: WASHINGTON - The Dallas Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives requested ATF’s National Response Team join the investigation into a church fire that occurred Monday morning at 7200 S. Walker Ave. in Oklahoma City.


Oklahoma City Man Charged With Setting Fire to Local Church

News Release: OKLAHOMA CITY - Yesterday, a criminal complaint was unsealed that charges OSCAR REYNALDO GOMEZ, 54, of Oklahoma City, with arson of the God of No Limits Church located at 7200 South Walker Avenue, in Oklahoma City, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.


Maple Grove Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms

News Release: MINNEAPOLIS - A Maple Grove man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for illegal possession of firearms, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.


Former Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Theft of Firearms From Police Weapons Vault and Tampering With Multiple Witnesses

News Release: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Former police officer William Cintrón-Rivera, a.k.a. “El Kid/Kid" pleaded guilty to the theft of 54 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, Guayama headquarters on July 17, 2019. On Jan. 20, 2021, a federal grand jury charged the defendant with multiple counts of firearms violations and tampering with witnesses.


Indianapolis Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for “Straw Purchases” of Nineteen Firearms and Illegal Gun Trafficking Using Instagram

News Release: Indianapolis- DeAngelo Carnell, 24, of Indianapolis, Indiana was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to six counts of making false statements in connection with the acquisition of a firearm and one count of dealing in firearms without a federal license.


New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal Firearm and Drug Trafficking Charges

News Release: NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DEVONTE SMITH, age 22, of New Orleans, pled guilty to seven counts of an eight-count indictment, that charged him with multiple federal firearms and drug trafficking violations stemming from a March 30, 2022 shootout, on the corner of Orleans ...


Cherry Hill Gang Member Sentenced to 21 Years in Federal Prison for a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Murdering a Rival Gang Member

News Release: Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III today sentenced Deaven Cherry, age 35, of Baltimore, Maryland to 21 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for a conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise.


Chairman Smith: Americans Add Biden’s Inflation Crisis to Death and Taxes as Part of Life’s Certainties

Americans will continue to suffer under President Biden’s inflation crisis, after the latest Consumer Price Index report showed inflation at 5.0 percent, an over 30 year high, and inflation rising 14.9 percentage points since Joe Biden became President.


Chairman Smith Opening Statement – Field Hearing on the State of the American Economy: The South

“Good morning, and welcome to the third field hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee in the new Republican majority. Thank you to NAECO for hosting us here today.


Former Lafayette and Vermilion Parish Educator Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaint

United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Jacob Conrad De La Paz is in federal custody pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by United States Magistrate Judge David J. Ayo on a federal criminal complaint for attempted production of child pornography


Canton Man Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon

A Canton man was sentenced to 63 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.


ATF National Response Team Joins Commercial Fire Investigation

The Seattle Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives requested assets from ATF’s National Response Team join the investigation into a fire that broke out onboard the 276-foot commercial fishing vessel Kodiak Enterprises while docked in Tacoma, Washington.


Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy To Sell Firearms and Fentanyl

A Las Vegas man charged in a conspiracy to sell firearms and machine guns without a Federal Firearms License, and a conspiracy to sell Fentanyl and Xanax was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 70 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release.


Providence Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud

A citizen of Liberia residing in Providence who participated in a fraud scheme to create and deposit fraudulent checks and then quickly withdraw the funds from banks before the fraud was discovered was sentenced today to forty-one months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.


Two New Orleans Men Sentenced to Over 40 Years in Federal Prison for Violent Carjackings

HAROLD FOSTER, age 31, and MARC DALTON, age 31, of New Orleans, Louisiana were sentenced on April 25, 2023 by United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. After a federal jury trial, the defendants were convicted of two counts of carjacking in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1) and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). FOSTER was sentenced to a total of 44 years imprisonment and DALTON was sentenced to a total of 41 years and 6 months imprisonment.


Pair Accused of More St. Louis Carjackings

Two men from East St. Louis, Illinois who were already facing federal charges related to a carjacking in November have been accused of more.


U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors Law Enforcement Partners in Fourth Annual “Excellence in the Pursuit of Justice” Awards Ceremony

The United States Attorney’s Office recognized members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies at its fourth annual “Excellence in the Pursuit of Justice” Awards ceremony.


Maple Grove Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms

A Maple Grove man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for illegal possession of firearms, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.


D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge

Rodney Burton 35, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting SAC Michael Weddel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Robert J. Contee III, of the Metropolitan Police Department.