Month: September 2022

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Security News: Federal Jury Finds Serial Burglar Guilty of Illegally Possessing Firearm

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Louisville, KY – A federal jury convicted a Louisville man yesterday of possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony.

According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, on December 3, 2020, Nathaniel Durham, 31, was armed with a firearm as he approached a stolen vehicle. As Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers attempted to arrest the individuals in possession of the stolen vehicle, Durham fled and threw the firearm to the ground. After a short foot pursuit, Durham was apprehended. The jury found Durham guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, Durham’s prior felony convictions included more than ten (10) burglaries in Jefferson County.

Durham was charged in an indictment that also charged Marquise Reyes, Jeremy Cosby, and Phillips Barnes with other offenses. Each of these defendants pled guilty prior to trial.   

Marquise Reyes, 24, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On July 29, 2022, Reyes was sentenced by a United States District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky to 43 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On August 25, 2022, Jeremy Cosby, 28, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His sentencing is scheduled for November 18, 2022.  

On August 30, 2022, Phillip Barnes, 33, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His sentencing is scheduled for November 18, 2022.

Durham’s sentencing is scheduled for December 13, 2022. Durham faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Durham remains in federal custody.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and LMPD Chief Erika Shields made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia P. Gomez and Mac Shannon are prosecuting the case with the assistance of paralegal Adela Alic.

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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Security News: Fort Myers Felon Pleads Guilty To Selling Gun And Drugs To Undercover ATF Agent

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Ronald Dale Perkins (44, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and distribution of methamphetamine. Perkins faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the firearm offense and up to 20 years in federal prison for the drug offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on April 5, 2022, Perkins, a nine-time convicted felon, sold a sawed-off .410 caliber shotgun gun and methamphetamine to an undercover ATF special agent.

This case is being investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

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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Defense News: Scranton Returns from a Successful Deployment

Source: United States Navy

Under the leadership of Cmdr. Michael McGuire, Scranton’s commanding officer, the submarine is returning from a seven-month deployment in the 7th Fleet area of operations where the ship conducted multiple high-priority tasks, fostering cooperation in the Pacific while building and exercising combat power and expertise.

“Our time on deployment proved the submarine force is the most flexible deterrent available to our strategic planners against near peer competitors,” said McGuire. “Scranton benefited greatly from the adaptive planning based on the dynamic operations in 7th Fleet. I can say without a doubt that the officers, chiefs and ship’s crew are better prepared to continue to defend our great nation.”

During the deployment, Scranton steamed approximately 50,000 nautical miles, crossed the International Date Line (IDL) and conducted port visits in Guam, Yokosuka and Okinawa.

“Crossing the IDL on the way home was a really exciting moment because it meant that we had completed the mission successfully and that gave me a sense of accomplishment,” said Yeoman (Submarine) 1st Class Esteban Gonzalez.

Similarly to Gonzalez’s excitement, Machinist’s Mate (Auxiliary) 1st Class Laurence Cuteri could not wait to be reunited with loved ones.

“I just can’t wait to get home and see my wife and kids and dogs,” said Cuteri. “That’s going to be a very special moment for me.”

The Los Angeles-class submarine is a fast-attack submarine equipped and designed for anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, insertion of special forces, mining counter measures, search and rescue, as well as show-of-force and strike missions.

Named after the city of Scranton, Penn., Scranton was built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, and was commissioned Jan. 26, 1991. The 360-foot ship is manned by roughly 15 officers and 140 enlisted Sailors.

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Defense News: Maryland Fleet Week and Flyover Begins

Source: United States Navy

This year’s MDFW includes ship tours, Baltimore Inner Harbor flyovers, static displays, and Fleet Week festivals at multiple locations throughout Baltimore Sept. 7-13, both in-person and online. This is the third time Baltimore has hosted Fleet Week.

Participating ships include dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), Freedom-variant Littoral Combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21), Military Sealift Command (MSC) Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport USNS Newport (T-EPF-12), Canadian Royal Navy Kingston-class coastal defense vessel HMCS Moncton (M-708), U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James Rankin (WLM-555), and Danish Tall Ship Danmark. National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA), and Army Corps of Engineers vessels are also available.

Flyover units include Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 2, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 1, Fighter Squadron Composite Twelve (VFC-12), Training Air Wing 4 (TW4), Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadrons 14 & 15 (HM-14; HM-15), and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (VMM-365) with flights scheduled Sept. 9-11.

Rear Adm. Nancy S. Lacore, Commandant, Naval District Washington, discussed the partnership between the Navy and Baltimore.

“Fleet Week is a tradition for Baltimore and the U.S. Navy that goes back years,” said Lacore. “Past Fleet Weeks proved just how magnificent this historic city, its port, and its people are and how skilled you are as partners to the Navy and planning and executing such a complex event. We are glad to be back for Fleet Week.”

MDFW is an opportunity for the citizens of Maryland and the City of Baltimore to meet Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen, as well as see firsthand the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services. More than 2,300 sea service members are expected to participate this year.

For more information on ways to enjoy MDFW fleets, flights, and festivals, visit mdfleetweek.org. Follow @mdfleetweek on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter for an insider perspective through virtual ship tours and behind the scenes experiences.

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GSA to enclose former Friendship Park site in San Luis, Arizona

Source: United States General Services Administration

September 7, 2022

Site will be used to expand and modernize the San Luis I Land Port of Entry

SAN LUIS, Ariz. – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announces the planned closure of the formerly Friendship Park site in preparation for the modernization and expansion construction project at the San Luis I Land Port of Entry (LPOE). Fencing will be installed on September 8 2022 to ensure public safety and allow GSA to proceed with its planned construction for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funded project.

In 2021, the city of San Luis relinquished its use of the Friendship Park site to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) who granted the site to the city. In 2022, the site was transferred from BLM to the General Services Administration in furtherance of the modernization of the San Luis I LPOE. The acquisition provides additional land for improvements and expansion of the existing port. The approximately 6 acre former park land will allow GSA to double the number of northbound vehicle lanes from eight to 16 and install four more pedestrian inspection booths for a total of 14. These improvements will provide the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with necessary infrastructure to increase processing capacity and to reduce traveler wait times.

“We are grateful for the relinquishment of the park to the federal government,” said Region 9 LPOE Program Manager Anthony Kleppe. “With this land now in GSA’s possession, we’re excited about the future transformation of the site into a portion of the modernized and expanded San Luis I Land Port of Entry that will serve the region’s binational community for the coming decades.”

Built in 1984, the San Luis I LPOE is the second busiest non-commercial LPOE in Arizona, processing more than 3 million vehicles and 2.5 million pedestrians each year. Originally, the port processed both commercial and non-commercial traffic. In 2010, commercial operations shifted to a new port referred to as the San Luis II LPOE, located approximately eight miles east of San Luis I.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.