Press Release
BROWARD FELON CHARGED WITH IMPERSONATING DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL
February 19, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Christina Pharo, United States Marshal, Southern District of Florida, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Miami Division, and Larry L. Massey, Jr., Chief, Plantation Police Department, announced that defendant Stephen Armband made his initial appearance in federal court today on charges of impersonating a Deputy U.S. Marshal and being a felon-in-possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 912 and 922(g)(1). If convicted, Armband faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. A pre-trial detention hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Seltzer.
According to the criminal complaint and information presented in Court, the Plantation Police Department (“PPD”) contacted the U.S. Marshal’s Service (“USMS”) after Armband approached a PPD officer who was responding to a burglary call on February 3, 2009. Armband identified himself as a U.S. Marshal and offered to assist the officer with the burglary call. Armband was wearing a holster with firearm, carried a gold USMS badge, and had handcuffs on his waist. The officer declined Armband’s offer of assistance. After a few minutes, Armband pulled his silver Honda Accord next to the PPD officer and flashed emergency lights at the officer. Because of this and other events, the officer became suspicious and contacted the USMS, who verified that Armband was not a Deputy U.S. Marshal. Armband was subsequently arrested at his apartment, where officers found a firearm, a gold USMS badge, and handcuffs.
The investigation further revealed that Armband made multiple traffic stops with his silver Honda Accord on Florida’s Turnpike in Broward and Palm Beach Counties and I-595 in Broward County, pretending to be a Deputy U.S. Marshal. It is believed that Armband may have made several false arrests. If anyone has any information on the case, they are urged to contact the U.S. Marshal’s Service in Fort Lauderdale immediately at (954) 356-7256.
Mr. Acosta thanked the Plantation Police Department, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and ATF. For their outstanding work on this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Katz.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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