U.S. Department of Justice

Alice H. Martin
United States Attorney
Northern District of Alabama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2002

INDIVIDUALS INDICTED BY FEDERAL GRAND JURY
FOR TRAFFICKING IN FIREARMS

Alice H. Martin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, and James M. Cavanaugh, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment for gun trafficking charges against DAVID S. CASSIMY, age 22, DWAYNE DERRICK, age 24, and SEAN A. GAGE, age 27, of Huntsville, Alabama.

According to the indictment, the defendants purchased approximately seventy (70) firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer, James Longshore, d/b/a Nafa#1, in Hazel Green, Alabama, obliterated the serial numbers, and transported, sold and delivered the firearms to purchasers in the State of Alabama and the State of New York.

Count One of the six-count indictment charges that between November 2001 and March 2002 the defendants and others conspired to transport, sell and receive firearms with obliterated serial numbers and to deal in firearms without a license.

Count Two of the indictment charges that on or about March 22, 2002, DAVID S. CASSIMY knowingly delivered to UPS two packages containing seven (7) firearms for shipment without providing UPS with written notice that such firearms were to be transported and shipped.

Counts Three, Four and Five of the indictment charge that DAVID S. CASSIMY, DWAYNE DERRICK, and SEAN A. GAGE engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a federal license.

Count Six of the indictment charges that SEAN A. GAGE knowingly transported firearms with obliterated serial numbers from the State of Alabama to the State of New York.

If convicted, the individuals in this indictment are facing a statutory maximum sentence of up to five years in prison for each count and a fine of up to $250,000.

According to Martin, "The investigation and prosecution of this case and others like it demonstrate our office's strong commitment and the strong commitment of the United States Department of Justice to stopping illegal gun crimes. In fact," Martin notes, "other than continuing its major efforts regarding domestic terrorism, the enforcement of federal firearms laws is one of the top priorities of the United States Department of Justice."

Special Agents of the ATF in Alabama and Special Agents of the ATF/NYPD Joint Firearms Task Force in New York worked closely together during this investigation and are continuing their investigation regarding illegal firearm transactions. The Madison County Sheriff's Department also played an instrumental role in the investigation of this case.

Assistant United States Attorney Alison S. Blackwell is prosecuting this case.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the Government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

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