Month: September 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

A Tulsa woman admitted Friday to strangling a female victim, causing her death, then attempting to set the victim’s body and residence on fire to conceal the crime, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

Jessica Lavon McBride, 30, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country and attempt to commit arson.

“Jessica McBride stayed in the home of the victim, and in return, she took her life because of missing food stamps,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My office and our law enforcement partners at the Tulsa Police Department and FBI will continue to hold perpetrators, like McBride, accountable for their criminal acts.”

The victim, Tracy Russell, had previously allowed the defendant and her boyfriend to stay with her in exchange for assistance with groceries but at a later time, requested the two leave her Tulsa residence.

In her plea agreement, McBride admitted to returning to the residence and killing the victim by strangulation on March 17, 2019. McBride said she committed the crime during a heated argument that started when she accused the victim of stealing her food stamps. Those claims were never substantiated.

In an effort to destroy evidence, McBride admitted that she covered the victim with a blanket and attempted to set the victim’s body and residence on fire. Her attempt failed, and McBride made plans to return, asking another individual to assist in setting the place on fire.

That individual reported the crime and McBride’s plan to authorities on March 20, 2019. That night, the individual and an undercover investigator picked up McBride and drove to the victim’s residence. McBride exited the vehicle carrying a plastic bag, which was later found to contain gas camp fuel and lighter fluid, and entered the residence through a window with the intention of setting the place on fire. Tulsa police officers then directed McBride out of the residence and took her into custody. Officers also recovered the victim’s body.

The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas E. Buscemi and Robert T. Raley are prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Alfredric James, 37, of Columbia, Mississippi, was charged in a federal indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  After a three-day trial, James was found guilty of both counts.

U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.   

According to court documents and trial testimony, on December 9, 2020, James retrieved a pound of pure methamphetamine hidden by two of his conspirators in a barbecue grill at a residence in Hattiesburg.  Having been alerted to the transaction, agents attempted to stop James’s vehicle. James fled but was apprehended with the meth after a short pursuit.  James was responsible for distributing over 8 kilograms of methamphetamine to the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area in a two month period in the Fall of 2020.         

James will be sentenced on January 12, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett.  He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Don’t Tell On Me Bro,” which began as an operation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area. “Don’t Tell On Me Bro” is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, Hattiesburg Police Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Keesha Middleton and Shundral Cole.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Jackson, Miss. – A Dekalb, Mississippi man was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to court documents, Lil’Christopher Jerome Mason, 27, was found in possession of a firearm by officers of the Meridian Police Department on June 9, 2021, during a traffic stop.  Mason had a .380 caliber pistol on the front passenger seat of his car.  Mason has a prior felony conviction for Burglary of a Dwelling.  As a convicted felon it is contrary to federal law for Mason to possess any firearm.

The Meridian Police Department and the FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.

This case is being 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.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Gulfport, Mississippi – A Louisiana man pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Cedric Vontrell Franklin, 39, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.  

According to court documents and information presented to the Court, on May 10, 2022, in Gulfport, Mississippi, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Franklin.   Officers searched Franklin’s vehicle and recovered a loaded 40 caliber handgun. A search of Franklin’s criminal history revealed he has multiple felony drug convictions.    

Franklin will be sentenced on December 19, 2022. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.  However, if the Court determines he is an Armed Career Offender, he faces a minimum of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum of life. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The DEA and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gulfport Police Department

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.

This case is being 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.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that KOUDRIS POUNDER, 38, formerly of Norwalk, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing controlled substances.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2019, Norwalk Police made controlled purchases of cocaine and MDMA (“ecstasy”) from Pounder.  On November 19, 2020, a court-authorized search of Pounder’s residence revealed distribution quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, phencyclidine (PCP) and marijuana; items used to process and package drugs for street sale; and firearm parts.

Pounder was federally arrested on January 30, 2020.  On February 24, 2022, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

This is Pounder’s second federal conviction.

Pounder, who is released on a $50,000 bond and residing in the Bronx, New York, is required to report to prison on November 16.

This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the Norwalk Police Department.  The HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford and Danbury Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles.