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Safety & Security

Previously Convicted Charles County Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms and Drug Charges

News Release: Greenbelt, Maryland - Sean Donnelle Hawkins, age 48, of Marbury, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday federal charges related to his distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and firearms in Charles County, Maryland. During the investigation, Hawkins sold eight firearms to a law enforcement source, including four privately made semi-automatic firearms, known as “ghost guns."


Safety & Security

South Florida Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Firearms Offense

News Release: Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Cambrel Jamal Smart (29, Fort Lauderdale) to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Smart to forfeit the firearm and ammunition he illegally possessed. Smart had pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2022.


Safety & Security

Jacksonville Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession

News Release: Jacksonville, Florida - U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Terry Lenard Shipman (48, Jacksonville) to five years and five months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Shipman had pleaded guilty in December 2022.


Safety & Security

Nine-Time Convicted Felon Federally Indicted for Possession of a Firearm

News Release: Ocala, Florida -United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Brady Williams (27, Ocala) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Williams faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.


Safety & Security

Frederick County Sheriff and Gun Dealer Indicted for Scheme To Illegally Acquire Machineguns

News Release: Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Charles Austin Jenkins, age 66, of Thurmont, Maryland, and Robert Justin Krop, age 36, of Frederick, Maryland, with conspiracy and false statements in order to acquire machineguns. Krop is also charged with illegal possession of machineguns. No court appearance is scheduled for the defendants at this time.


Safety & Security

Tennessee Man Sentenced to Life Plus 10 Years in Prison for First-Degree Murder in the Death of His U.S. Army Soldier Wife at Fort Campbell

News Release: Louisville, KY - A Clarksville, Tennessee man, formerly of Jacksonville, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to life, plus 10 years, in prison for the Oct. 14, 2018, murder of his wife and shooting of another man at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.


Safety & Security

Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years for Trafficking Nearly 150 Pounds of Drugs, Including Heroin, Fentanyl, and Marijuana

News Release: WASHINGTON - Linwood Douglas Thorne, 51, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy that resulted in one of the largest seizures of heroin in the District of Columbia’s history. The sentence, handed down March 31, 2023, by U.S. District ...


Safety & Security

ATF National Response Team Joins Chicago Fire Department in Fire Investigation

News Release: CHICAGO - The Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives requested ATF’s National Response Team join the investigation into a fire that occurred Tuesday early morning that claimed the life of a Chicago Firefighter and where two others sustained nonlife threatening injuries at 12015 South Wallace in Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood.


Safety & Security

Jacksonville Convicted Felon Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession

News Release: Jacksonville, Florida - U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Frederick Lamont Sams (41, Jacksonville) to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. Sams had pleaded guilty in December 2022.


Safety & Security

Brooklyn Park Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

News Release: ST. PAUL, Minn. - A Brooklyn Park man was sentenced to 87 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.


Safety & Security

Cumberland County Man Admits Possessing Destructive Device and Explosive Materials

News Release: CAMDEN, N.J. - A Cumberland County, New Jersey, man today admitted possessing a destructive device and explosive materials, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.


Safety & Security

St. Paul Man Sentenced to Prison for Straw Purchasing Multiple Firearms

News Release: MINNEAPOLIS - A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.


Safety & Security

Convicted Murderer Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms

News Release: Ocala, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Christopher Richard Munroe (55, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Munroe faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 15, 2023. Munroe had been indicted on Dec. 20, 2022.


Safety & Security

Indictment Alleges New Haven Gang Members Committed 2 Murders and 10 Attempted Murders

News Release: As a result of an investigation into gang-related drug trafficking and related violence in New Haven, a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging six alleged members and associates of the “Exit 8" street gang in New Haven with conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including drug trafficking, murder, and attempted murder, as well as related offenses.


Safety & Security

Jefferson County Man Admits Possessing Pipe Bombs, Methamphetamine

News Release: ST. LOUIS - A man from Jefferson County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted possessing two pipe bombs and methamphetamine.


Safety & Security

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.


Safety & Security

Zachary Louisiana Man Indicted for Gun Offense

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - TERRANCE PICKETT, age 27, a resident of Zachary, Louisiana, was charged on March 24, 2023, in a one-count indictment for violating the Federal Gun Control Act, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.


Safety & Security

ATF Posts Results of Federal Firearm Licensee Compliance Inspections Involving Violations of the Department of Justice’s Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement Policy

News Release: WASHINGTON - Today, for the first time ever, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began publicly posting information, available on the ATF website, regarding the results of certain compliance inspections of federal firearms licensees (FFL) completed between July 2021 and December 2022.


Safety & Security

Springfield Man Involved in Drive-By Shootings Sentenced for Illegal Firearms

News Release: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A Springfield, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing firearms following his involvement in two drive-by shootings.


Safety & Security

Jury Convicts Ionia Man of Meth Conspiracy

News Release: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An Ionia, Mo., man was convicted at trial today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Pettis County, Mo.