Source: United States Department of Justice News
Montgomery, Alabama – Eighteen individuals were indicted on federal gun and drug charges as part of a United States Marshals Service led, multi-agency operation to combat violent crime in Central Alabama’s River Region. Other participating agencies include: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Montgomery Police Department; the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office; the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office; the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles; and the United States Probation Office for the Middle District of Alabama.
Nationwide, gun crimes, gang activity, and shootings are on the rise. Law enforcement officers work every day to make our neighborhoods safer and our citizens more secure. Operations like this one, conducted from June 6th – 17th, are part of a combined effort to focus resources on violent offenders. Numerous state arrests were made during this operation as well.
As part of this operation, the following individuals from the Montgomery area were indicted on federal charges:
- Mario Aguilera, 38, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Antonio Bailey, 39, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance;
- Christopher Shay Barron, 45, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered firearm;
- Patrick Bass, 42, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense;
- Julius Calhoun, 27, for possession of a stolen firearm;
- Rodricko Davis, 30, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Christopher Duncan, 39, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Antwon Fisher, 38, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Arthur Hamilton, 34, on three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Deshunquez Harris, 27, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Eric Hoskins, 27, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute;
- Willie Thomas Luckie, Jr., 56, for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon;
- Kendarius Powell, 23, for possession of a stolen firearm;
- Marcus Salter, 26, for possession of a stolen firearm;
- Tadarius Salter, 22, for possession of a stolen firearm;
- Adrian Fitzgerald Talley, III, 29, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Jeremiah Trammer, 32, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance; and
- Christopher Washington, 41, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of an unregistered firearm charges each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a minimum sentence of five years to be served consecutively to any other sentences. The maximum sentence for those charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute varies depending on the type of controlled substance, weight of the substance, and other factors specific to the charge. There is no parole in the federal system.
All federal cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama pursuant to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program in which U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Recently, the Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN as part of its renewed focus on targeting armed violent criminals and gang members.