ATF Washington Field Division Releases Mid-Year Significant Investigations
WASHINGTON – James D. Newman, acting special agent in charge (SAC) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division, released a list of the top investigations undertaken during the first half of fiscal year 2012 (Oct. 1, 2011–March 31, 2012). The Washington Field Division covers Washington D.C., the Commonwealth of Virginia, and seven counties in the panhandle of West Virginia.
Newman said, The men and women of ATF are at the forefront of the fight against violent crime, and they remain focused on taking the
worst of the worst
criminals off our streets so that our citizens and their children can feel safe in their neighborhoods and schools. These investigations highlight the outstanding efforts of ATF agents and our law enforcement partners in getting violent criminals off our streets.
The investigations listed below were prosecuted out of the U.S. Attorney's offices in the Eastern and Western District of Virginia and Washington D.C.
Hampton Man Indicted on Drug Conspiracy Charge
Oct. 26, 2011
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. &nad Eldred L. Acklin, 34, of Hampton, Va., was arrested yesterday after being indicted by a federal grand jury on drug conspiracy charges, as well as sixteen separate counts of distribution of cocaine base. More >>
Members of Cigarette Trafficking Conspiracy Indicted
Nov. 3, 2011
HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Federal Grand Jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg has indicted dozens of individuals for conspiring to traffic in contraband cigarettes, money laundering and a variety of related charges. More »
District Man Pleads Guilty to Series of Arsons in Densely Populated City Neighborhoods
Nov. 4, 2011
WASHINGTON — Maurice Dews, 27, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to five counts of arson and other charges for starting a series of fires in the District of Columbia over a period of 3 ½ years that ended with his arrest last summer. More »
Alexandria Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Victim at Gunpoint After iPhone Sale Ad
Nov. 16, 2011
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Deshawn Derr, 25, of Alexandria, Va., pleaded guilty today to robbing a victim at gunpoint of $2,500 in cash, after the man arrived at a pre–arranged location responding to an advertisement placed on Craigslist.org purporting to sell Apple iPhones. More »
Maryland Man Indicted for Role in 2010 Murder in Centreville
Nov. 18, 2011
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Reynard Lazaro Prather, 22, of Oxon Hill, Md., was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for his alleged role in the attempted armed robbery and murder of a man at a residence in the Centreville area of Fairfax County, Va. More>>
Petersburg Man Sentenced To 50 Years in Prison after Being Found Guilty Of Six Felony Charges
Nov. 23, 2011
RICHMOND, Va. – Cory D. Harris, 27, of Petersburg, Va., was sentenced today by a federal judge on gun and drug charges. United States District Judge Henry E. Hudson sentenced Harris to 20 years' imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute "crack" cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute "crack" cocaine, those sentences to run concurrent to each other. In addition, the Court sentenced Harris to five years' imprisonment for one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and 25 years for a second such count. Those sentences were ordered to run consecutive to all other sentences. Finally, the Court sentenced Harris to 10 years' imprisonment on two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, those sentences to run concurrent to all other sentences. The total sentence for Harris was 50 years' imprisonment. More>>
Eleven Men Arrested for Cocaine, Firearms Trafficking in Manassas, Fairfax County, Va.
Dec. 1, 2011
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Eleven men were arrested yesterday as part of an ongoing, three-year investigation of interconnected cocaine and firearm distributors largely operating out of Manassas and Fairfax County, Va. To date, more than 60 individuals have been charged since the operation’s inception in 2009. More »
Portsmouth Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery of Convenience Stores
Dec. 6, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. – Christopher Lakeith Williams, 20, of Portsmouth, Va., pleaded guilty today in Norfolk federal court to two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. More>>
Five Scott County Residents Pleaded Guilty to Drug Distribution Conspiracy
Dec. 19, 2011
ABINGDON, Va. — United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy today announced that five defendants charged with a variety of crimes related to a drug distribution conspiracy have pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon. The charges resulted from a cooperative investigation by the Scott County, Va., Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshals Service. More>>
Pair of Scott County Residents Sentenced on Drug Distribution Conspiracy Charges
Jan. 6, 2012.
ABINGDON, Va. – The first two Scott County residents charged with being part of a drug distribution conspiracy that operated in Southwest Virginia were sentenced this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon. More>>
Man Convicted of Murder Charges in Fiery Assault That Led to Death of Manager of Good Guys Club
Jan. 20, 2012
WASHINGTON – Vasile Graure, 41, was convicted by a jury today of felony murder while armed with aggravating circumstances in connection with an arson at a Northwest Washington club that led to a man’s death. More »
Richmond Man Sentenced to More Than 39 Years for His Role in 11 Commercial Robberies in the Richmond Area
Feb. 22, 2012
RICHMOND, Va. – Antonio E. Smith, 21, of Richmond, Va., was sentenced today to 471 months in prison for his role in 11 commercial robberies in the Richmond area. Targeting gas stations, fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and groceries, Smith and his accomplice's crime spree netted over $5,000 in proceeds from these robberies. More>>
Virginia Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Drugs and Machine Gun
Feb. 23, 2012
NORFOLK, Va. — Christian J. Devine, 58, of Virginia Beach, Va., pleaded guilty today in Norfolk federal court to possession of a machine gun and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Devine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 24, 2012. More>>
Final Defendant Pleads Guilty for Contraband Cigarette Trafficking
March 5, 2012
WASHINGTON — Maurice Dews, 27, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 25 years in prison on arson and other charges stemming from a series of fires in the District of Columbia over a period of 3 ½ years that ended with his arrest last summer. More »
T-Shirt Bandit Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison
March 9, 2012
RICHMOND, Va. – Ryan O. Jones, age 29, of Richmond, Va., was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by a term of five years of supervised release, for attempted robbery affecting commerce and discharging a firearm during and in relation to this crime of violence. In addition, Jones was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,216 to his victims. More>>
District Man Sentenced to 25-Year Prison Term for Series of Arsons in Densely Populated City Neighborhoods
March 13, 2012
WASHINGTON – Maurice Dews, 27, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 25 years in prison on arson and other charges stemming from a series of fires in the District of Columbia over a period of 3 ½ years that ended with his arrest last summer. More »
Three Men Plead Guilty to 2005 Robbery and Murder of Richmond Convenience Store Clerk and other Robberies
March 13, 2012
RICHMOND, Va. – Three men pleaded guilty to their roles in a series of armed robberies in Virginia and North Carolina, including a 2005 robbery that resulted in the fatal shooting of a Richmond convenience store clerk. More >>
Alleged Members of Jewelry Theft Ring Arrested
March 21, 2012
WASHINGTON – Seven alleged members of a jewelry theft ring were arrested yesterday on charges related to their alleged roles in a highly sophisticated and violent organization that has stolen more than $4.6 million worth of jewelry from traveling jewelry sales representatives throughout Virginia and at least six other states. Charges against the individuals were unsealed today after the defendants made initial court appearances in Newport News, Va. More »
Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison on Murder Charges In Fiery Assault That Led to Death of Manager of Good Guys Club
March 23, 2012
WASHINGTON – Vasile Graure, 41, was sentenced today to a prison term of 35 years on a charge of felony murder while armed with aggravating circumstances in connection with an arson at a Northwest Washington club that led to a man's death. More »
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