Month: June 2022

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Security News: Colchester Man Convicted of Drug Crimes

Source: United States Department of Justice News

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Carl Martin, 37, of Colchester, Vermont, was convicted on five of six counts on June 10, 2022, in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, following a five-day jury trial before United States District Judge William K. Sessions III.    

In October 2020, Martin was charged in a multi-count federal grand jury indictment with participating in a conspiracy to sell cocaine from Fall 2018 to October 23, 2019, selling cocaine to an undercover agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on four occasions in late 2019, and during one of those drug distributions, trading cocaine for a semiautomatic pistol.  According to court records and proceedings, the drug undercover investigation resulting in the charges here followed an earlier investigation into Martin’s involvement in a shooting that occurred in front of Nectar’s, a restaurant in Burlington, in February 2018. The shooter in that incident, Rashad Nashid, was sentenced to 12 ½ years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of illegal firearm possession.

On June 10, 2022, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on five of six counts.  The jury found Martin guilty on all counts except the count charging Martin with trading cocaine for a semiautomatic pistol.  Judge Sessions ordered Martin to be detained after the jury returned its verdict and pending his sentencing.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the ATF, the Burlington Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Vermont State Police in the investigation and prosecution of Martin.  United States Attorney Kerest also stated, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to collaborate with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute drug traffickers who possess and use firearms in Vermont.  Prosecution of firearm-related offenses remains one of our top priorities and we appreciate the diligent and courageous work of the officers throughout Vermont on these cases.”  

Martin faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release of at least three years, and up to a $1,000,000 fine.  Martin’s actual sentence, however, will be determined by the sentencing judge with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines.  

The prosecution of Martin was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wendy L. Fuller, Andrew C. Gilman, and Owen C.J. Foster.  Martin was represented by Chandler Matson, Esq.

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.  Please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn for more information.

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Security News: Middleton Man Sentenced to 40 Months for Illegal Gun Possession

Source: United States Department of Justice News

MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ramar A. Brown, 26, Middleton, Wisconsin was sentenced on Friday, June 10 by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 40 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  This prison term will be followed by 36 months of supervised release.  Brown pleaded guilty to this charge on March 7, 2022.

On October 12, 2021, Fitchburg Police Department (FPD) officers planned to arrest Ramar Brown who was the subject of unrelated state investigations and was observed operating a stolen vehicle.  When officers approached and identified themselves to Brown, he fled.  He was eventually apprehended by FPD officers. During his flight, Brown threw a bag to the ground.  Officers searched the bag and found a Glock 9mm handgun loaded with a 28-round extended magazine.  Brown’s DNA was later found on the Glock handgun. 

Brown was prohibited from legally possessing a firearm based on multiple prior felony convictions.  At the time of this incident, he was on state extended supervision for a prior armed robbery conviction.  His state supervision was revoked in January 2022, and he is currently serving a state prison sentence of just over 2 ½ years on that case.  Judge Conley ordered this federal sentence to run concurrently with the remainder of Brown’s state prison sentence. 

At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that the handgun being loaded with an extended magazine was an aggravating factor, as was the fact that Brown was on state supervision for armed robbery when he committed this offense.

The charge against Brown was the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case. 

This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime.  The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence. 

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Defense News: Vice Adm. Williamson Visits Navy Region Southeast Installations

Source: United States Navy

Williamson, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics (OPNAV N4), met with base officials at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, June 6; NAS Jacksonville, June 8; Naval Submarine Base (NSB) Kings Bay, June 9 to review the installations’ capabilities and future projects necessary to continue their support to the fleet.

“Our shore enterprise enables Fleet readiness which has a tremendous impact on our aviation, surface and sub-surface combatants,” Williamson said. “The hard work and dedication of the installation teams enable our warfighting units to be able to man, train, and equip our forces which allow us to ensure persistent logistics in unpredictable operational environments.”

As OPNAV N4, Williamson serves as the resource sponsor for operational logistics and supply chain support. His staff also supervises requirements for depot maintenance, ship support, fleet training and training ranges and is the primary resource sponsor for shore capabilities.

The facilities visited ranged widely from Hurricane Sally damaged Unaccompanied Housing in NAS Pensacola, to the Trident Refit Facility in NSB Kings Bay and warehouse facilities in NAS Jacksonville. Conversations were also held detailing energy infrastructure, water utilities, base buffering initiatives, transportation programs and waterway management.

Comparable to small cities, naval installations are major components of the shore establishment and are complex enterprises in their own right. Most have airports or harbors with maintenance depots, housing, hospitals, retail establishments and much more. Having access to the officer who directs allocation for the scarce resources available to improve shore capabilities, the visit was vital for the region leadership and installation commanding officers.

“Shore installations provide maintenance, training and logistics to the Fleet. Our effective shore-based management strategies provide the backbone for the U.S. Navy to meet our national defense mission,” Rear Adm. Wesley McCall, Commander, Navy Region Southeast said. “Having him here in person gave us the ability to articulate our challenges and opportunities to better serve the Fleet.”

Commander, Navy Region Southeast manages and oversees shore installations support and execution for 18 installations within the United States from South Carolina to Texas and from Tennessee to Florida and includes Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

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Defense News: U.S., UAE Forces Begin Maritime Exercise in Arabian Gulf

Source: United States Navy

Exercise Iron Defender is an annual bilateral training event between U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and forces from the United Arab Emirates. The exercise focuses on maritime security operations, mine countermeasures and harbor defense.

“The United Arab Emirates is a longstanding strategic partner. This is an excellent opportunity to deepen bilateral ties and train with our highly capable Emirati partners,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of NAVCENT, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “We are stronger when we work together.”

More than 600 U.S. personnel from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are participating. U.S. Navy ships USS Momsen (DDG 92), USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) and USNS Catawba (T-ATF-168) are participating at sea with U.S. Coast Guard cutters USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142) and USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318).

NAVCENT is headquartered in Manama, Bahrain and includes U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb.

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Defense News: USS Forrest Sherman Departs for Mediterranean NATO Deployment

Source: United States Navy

During the deployment, Forrest Sherman will serve as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) and will operate in the European theater. She will conduct freedom of navigation and presence operations as well as participate in multiple exercises with Allies and partners in the region.

Forrest Sherman successfully completed a surge deployment from February to April while operating with NATO Allies in the Eastern Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic Sea under commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet.

“The Sailors aboard Forrest Sherman are incredibly talented and resilient,” Cmdr. Greg Page, commanding officer of USS Forrest Sherman said. “Their unwavering commitment to the mission helps ensure that our nation’s maritime presence remains strong. “This year has presented multiple opportunities for the Forrest Sherman crew to become proficient operating with our allies and partners. As the flagship for SNMG2, I am excited to continue to work with NATO and demonstrate our professionalism, capabilities and resolve to the world.”

NATO seeks to increase security through cooperation and building relationships in line with shared values, building mutual security as well as respecting the rights of individual nations to decide their own futures.

“The Forrest Sherman team is ready to respond throughout the region in service of our maritime interests,” said Rear Adm. Scott Sciretta, prospective commander, SNMG2. “In the days ahead we will strengthen our relationships with like-minded allies and partners. We look forward to strengthening the alliance and conducting operations that will challenge us and make us stronger than ever. NATO is capable now, ready for tomorrow and adapting for the future.”

Forrest Sherman will operate with several allied navies including members from Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Forrest Sherman is deploying to the European theater of operations and after reporting as the flagship for SNMG2 in July, will participate in a range of maritime activities in support of NATO allies and European Partners.