Month: May 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

LAS VEGAS — In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. This year, National Police Week is observed from Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17.

“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”

“During National Police Week, we recognize our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners for their courage and dedication,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “We also honor and pay tribute to the brave women and men who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty: they will never be forgotten. Our office is grateful for Nevada’s law enforcement community and the families of every officer and agent.”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. Last year, seven officers have died in the line of duty in the District of Nevada.

Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program. 

The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — A federal grand jury in Florence returned a one-count indictment against Richard Terrell Smith, 32 of Conway, for felon in possession of a firearm.

The indictment alleges that in June 2021, Smith possessed a 9mm pistol as well as a 20 gauge shotgun after having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.

Smith faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment followed by up to 3 years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. He is currently detained pending trial.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case was investigated by the Horry County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. Waller is prosecuting the case. 

U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — A federal grand jury in Florence returned a one-count indictment against Demetrice Trayvon Campbell, 28, of Conway, South Carolina, for felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The indictment alleges that in January 2021, Campbell knowingly possessed a Colt .45 caliber pistol after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year. 

Smith faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment followed by up to 3 years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. He is currently detained pending trial.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case was investigated by the Horry County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. Waller is prosecuting the case. 

U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that yesterday Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey Crawford sentenced Shiquan Mangual, 28, of Hartford, Connecticut, to a 36-month period of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release, upon Mangual’s conviction by guilty plea of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.  

According to court records, Mangual was arrested by the FBI on June 9, 2021, in connection with a search of a farmhouse in Randolph, Vermont.  During the search agents found several firearms, including a loaded handgun, distribution quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl, as well as more than $7,500 in United States currency.  Mangual has been in the custody of the United States Marshals Service during the pendency of the prosecution.  

This case was investigated by the FBI, working with the Vermont State Police, the Montpelier Police Department, the Northfield Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration in Connecticut.  

Mangual was represented by Assistant Federal Defender Steven Barth. The Assistant United States Attorney handling the prosecution was Michael Drescher.  

Source: United States Department of Justice News

In honor of National Police Week, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state and local law enforcement.  This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11, through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland.  “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives.  On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”

“Everyday law enforcement in Northern Ohio and across the country put their lives on the line to make our communities safe and secure for us and future generations,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “This week, we offer our deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to all those in law enforcement, as well as to families and loved ones.”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifice.  Peace Officers Memorial Day, which falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.  Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021.  Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19.  This year, three officers have died in the line of duty in the Northern District of Ohio.  

Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents.  Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. 

In 2021, unprovoked attacks were the cause of 24 deaths, significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting.  Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program. 

The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT.  The vigil will be streamed live, online via the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF.  The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.