Category: US Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

INDIANAPOLIS — Bradley Morgan, 24, of Kokomo, has been sentenced to 68 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, in March of 2021, investigators with the Kokomo Police Department Violent Crimes Task Force began an investigation into Bradley Morgan after becoming aware of Instagram posts by Morgan, showing him pointing firearms at the camera. Morgan was known to be a convicted felon, on probation, and had an active warrant at the time of the discovery.

On April 14, 2021, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant at Morgan’s East Taylor Street residence in Kokomo. During the search, investigators found Morgan hiding in the bedroom closet. In the same bedroom, investigators located a quantity of controlled substances, a .40 caliber Glock with a 23-round capacity extended magazine, and a 9mm Smith & Wesson.

Morgan is prohibited under federal law from ever possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions for criminal recklessness and criminal recklessness with a dangerous weapon in Howard County.

“Multiple convictions for violent crimes were not enough to convince this offender to stop carrying a deadly weapon,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “The serious federal prison sentence imposed here should send a message to citizens returning to the community from custody: if you choose to possess a gun you will go right back to prison. Our office will continue to partner with the ATF and local task forces in Kokomo and all across our district to ensure that the most dangerous armed offenders are taken off our streets.”

“This is another successful collective investigative effort between federal and local law enforcement agencies to reduce violent crime in our community. The dedicated men and women of the Kokomo Police Department, Howard County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and our federal partners will continuously work together to do whatever is necessary to prosecute violent crime offenders and make our communities safer for all law-abiding citizens,” said Chief of Kokomo Police, Doug Stout.

ATF and Kokomo Police Department Violent Crimes Task Force investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Corbin Houston, who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

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Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

BILLINGS, Mont. — A Wyoming man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in the Miles City area was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Elmer Richard Petersen, 45, of Gillette, Wyoming, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in October 2021, law enforcement stopped Petersen in Miles City upon information that he was trafficking drugs. He was released from the scene and his car was seized. Officers executed a state search warrant on the car and recovered a 9mm pistol, approximately three pounds of meth and $10,000 cash. In December 2021, police received a tip that Petersen was back in Miles City. Officers located Petersen at a local hotel and attempted to arrest him on a warrant from Wyoming. Petersen fled but was arrested after a short foot chase. The arresting officer located a .380-caliber pistol in Petersen’s pocket. Petersen was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior felony conviction in Wyoming.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Montana Highway Patrol and Miles City Police Department conducted the investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

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Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Lucas Shirley II, 28, of Jacksonville, to five years and five months in federal prison for transferring unregistered short-barreled rifles. Shirley pleaded guilty on Aug. 17, 2023.

According to court documents, on Jan. 4, 2023, an undercover (UC) agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and a confidential informant (CI) went to Shirley’s home in Jacksonville posing as leaders of a motorcycle gang. Shirley sold the CI three privately manufactured rifles (to include a machinegun, a short-barreled rifle and a combination machinegun short-barreled rifle) and a firearm silencer. None of the firearms were registered in the National Firearms Registrations and Transfer Record, as required by law. Inside the home, the UC saw various tools and machines suitable for manufacturing firearm components and accessories.

In the weeks that followed, the CI, UC and Shirley spoke on the phone and exchanged text messages about firearms Shirley was manufacturing. Shirley told the CI he had armor-piercing ammunition and the firearms he was building were like the ones that U.S. Navy SEALs carry in battle. Through text messages, Shirley also sent the UC photographs of short-barreled rifles and firearm silencers.

On Jan. 24, 2023, the UC went to Shirley’s home and bought four short-barreled rifles equipped with firearm silencers. Shirley confirmed that two of the rifles were machineguns. These silencers and rifles were again not registered in the National Firearms Registrations and Transfer Record. Shirley also gave the UC three privately manufactured derringer-style pistols with the understanding the UC would pay for them at a later date.

On Feb. 2, 2023, the UC and other agents arrested Shirley and executed a federal search warrant. During the search, they found a privately manufactured pistol, a privately manufactured rifle equipped with a silencer, over 200 rounds of ammunition, approximately 12 machinegun conversion devices, a template for manufacturing machinegun conversion devices, two bags containing methamphetamine and marijuana, a pipe suitable for smoking methamphetamine and various firearm accessories and parts, including components that had been created using 3D printers. They also found tools, raw materials and equipment, including a 3D printer, which can be used to manufacture firearms, silencers and machinegun conversion devices. Shirley has never been licensed to manufacture or sell firearms.

This case was investigated by ATF and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Coolican.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

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Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

ORLANDO, Fla — U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Byron Louder, 34, Orlando, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Louder faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Louder that the U.S. intends to forfeit a Sig Sauer firearm, which is alleged to be involved in the offense.

According to the indictment, on Dec. 25, 2022, Louder possessed a firearm. At the time of the alleged offense, Louder had prior felony convictions for delivery of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Orlando Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. McNeff.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

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