Press Release
BROWARD MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGES OF IMPERSONATING A U.S. MARSHAL AND FELON-IN-POSSESSION OF A FIREARM
April 15, 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 pled guilty in West Palm Beach federal court today before U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks to two counts of impersonating a Deputy U.S. Marshal, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912, and one count of being a felon-in-possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Sentencing has been scheduled for June 29, 2009 at 10:30AM. At sentencing, Armband faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
According to the information released at today’s hearing, the Plantation Police Department (“PPD”) contacted the U.S. Marshal’s Service (“USMS”) because 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, a gold USMS badge, and handcuffs on his waist. The officer declined Armband’s assistance.
After a few minutes, Armband pulled his vehicle 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, which 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 on his person, among other items. Further investigation revealed that Armband made multiple traffic stops of civilians, acting as a Deputy U.S. Marshal, with his vehicle on Florida’s Turnpike in Broward County and other locations.
Mr. Acosta thanked the Plantation Police Department for their outstanding work, as well as the U.S. Marshal’s Service and ATF. 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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