Category: US Department of Justice

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Federal law enforcement, today, arrested Demarco Diggs, 26, of Aurora, Colorado, for trafficking-in dozens of firearms, including numerous firearms recovered in the Washington, D.C.-area. Diggs is charged by indictment with engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and illegally transporting firearms. Diggs will have a detention hearing on August 3, 2023 in the District of Colorado.

            The charges were announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, of the Washington Division, Acting United States Marshal Peter D. Marketos, of the District of Columbia, and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            According to the indictment, from on or about June 2021 to March 2023, Diggs engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. The indictment also charges Diggs with illegally transporting firearms into the District of Columbia on or about June and July of 2021.  Finally, the indictment seeks forfeiture of over two dozen firearms, as well as corresponding assorted ammunition, from Diggs. Among the firearms recovered, at least one has been linked to a D.C.-area shooting, and was traced back to Diggs as the purchaser.

            “This office, along with our law enforcement partners, will use every legal tool at our disposal to combat straw purchasing and choke off the dangerous flow of illegal guns into our city,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “The message should be clear: unlawfully buying a gun for a prohibited person is a serious federal offense.”

            “Today’s announcement sends a clear message that participating in straw purchasing and firearm trafficking related schemes will have consequences. ATF continues to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who violate firearm related laws are held accountable,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kailimai. “One of our top priorities is to maintain public safety, so that citizens can feel safe in their communities.”

            “The United States Marshals Service for the District of Columbia (D/DC) is proud to work with our federal, state, and local partners in a coordinated effort to keep illegal firearms off the streets of Washington, D.C.,” said Acting United States Marshal Marketos. “We are committed to continue our joint efforts to ensure the apprehension of those individuals who engage in the illegal sales and transportation of firearms and other crimes that lead to violence. This apprehension is a perfect example of the lengths to which the United States Marshals Service will go to make our city safer for the community.”

            The forfeiture allegations represent the firearms recovered in Washington, D.C. as well as additional firearms recovered from a search of Diggs’s residence, and firearms that Diggs had advertised for sale.

            Each charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison.  The sentence will be determined by the court after considering the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

            This case was jointly investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), with assistance from ATF Denver Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAVEN). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andy Wang and Matthew W. Kinskey of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses (VRTO) Section.

            An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew M. Graves joined law enforcement partners at Rosedale Recreation Center in Northeast, Fifth District, along with community organizers, and neighbors for National Night Out today.

            “We have no greater partner in our fight against crime than our fellow community members,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “From reporting crime, bearing witness, and providing evidence – including, in this day and age, providing video from private security cameras at their residences. The community has been and will continue to be one of our greatest crime fighting partners. And that’s why National Night Out is so important.”

            This year, hundreds of residents across the District participated in various National Night Out events in their communities. This annual community-building campaign promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer. Established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice, the initiative is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.

            With coordination by local law enforcement and community partners, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together in a positive way, by hosting neighborhood block parties, cookouts, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, and more fun activities. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.

            For more information, visit https://natw.org/.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – A Kentucky man pleaded guilty today to two felony charges for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Joseph Howe, 41, of Magnolia, Kentucky, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to obstruction of an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers. Howe is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 20, 2023.

            According to court documents, Howe, who was outfitted with a plate carrier vest, goggles, and a respirator mask, marched with a group to the Capitol building and announced to a man with a video camera, “We’re getting in that building.” When the man disagreed, Howe repeated, “We’re getting in.”

            Wearing goggles and a gas mask, Howe entered under the scaffolding that covered the Capitol’s Northwest staircase and encountered a group of rioters confronting a line of police officers. Court documents say that Howe grabbed a riot shield from the hands of a U.S. Capitol police officer. Members of the mob then attacked the officer leaving him with a concussion and head trauma that required treatment at a hospital.

            Howe continued up the stairs in possession of a police baton. Making his way toward the front of the crowd, he grabbed a bike rack barrier away from a line of police and helped to pass it back to the mob. Howe and the other rioters broke through additional phalanxes of officers and were among the first rioters to reach the Upper West Terrace and the Senate Wing Door. Howe forcefully kicked at the door. Rioters who were already inside opened the door. Passing through the Crypt to the Memorial Door, Howe removed his respirator mask and camouflage jacket, revealing his tactical armored vest. Joining with a crowd of rioters, Howe pushed through a small makeshift line of officers, grabbed a fire extinguisher, and fired it toward a group of police, hitting one of them directly in the eyes with the chemical agent.

            Howe was arrested on Oct. 28, 2022, in Kentucky.

            A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.

            The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington and Louisville Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

                       In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,060 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. 

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — A Florida man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting multiple law enforcement officers, related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Marcus Clint Martin, 32, of Blountstown, Florida, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. In addition to the felonies, Martin is charged with misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds.

            Martin was arrested today in Panama City, Florida, and is expected to make his initial appearance in the Northern District of Florida.

            According to court documents, Martin was identified in multiple open-source videos and images as present among the crowd of rioters on Jan. 6, 2021. In one image posted to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Be-On-the-Look-Out slides, Martin is seen atop a scaffolding erected for the inauguration. In another video, Martin is seen removing metal barricades in front of the U.S. Capitol building near the inauguration stands. Martin is then seen chanting, “Who’s house?! Our house” while beating on his chest.

            Court documents say that sometime after 1:00 pm, on the west front of the Capitol, Martin is seen on open-source video fighting multiple law enforcement officers. The video depicts Martin rendering aid to an injured rioter, then preventing law enforcement officers from attempting to assist the rioter. The video shows Martin shoving one unidentified United States Capitol Police (USCP) officer away from the injured individual and using his shoulder to push away another.

            After this incident, a USCP officer is pushed over by the crowd of rioters, and Martin is seen joining a pile of others on top of the downed officer.  Martin is again seen using his shoulder to shove USCP officers attempting to assist the downed officer and pushing another unidentified USCP officer.  Martin is also later seen attempting to grab a metal barricade in front of a line of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers on the west front.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Tampa and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            A Washington state man pleaded guilty today to felony charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

             Tucker Weston, 34, of Lynnwood, Washington, pleaded guilty today in the District of Columbia to two felony offenses, including assault on a federal officer and civil disorder. U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton scheduled a sentencing hearing for Nov. 21, 2023.

            According to court documents, Weston traveled from Seattle, Washington, to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse. On the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, Weston attended the rally and, afterward, marched with other protestors toward the U.S. Capitol. Near the Capitol, Weston participated in removing a metal barricade on the Capitol grounds, which enabled the rioters to advance closer to the building.

            Court documents say that Weston then reached the Lower West Plaza of the grounds and confronted a group of police officers that stood between the crowd and the Capitol building. At around 1:02 p.m., court documents state that during this confrontation, Weston and a group of rioters shoved police officers who attempted to prevent the rioters from getting closer. After breaching the Lower West Plaza, Weston made his way to the south side of the plaza. Here, Weston joined other rioters in using a bike rack to push back against law enforcement. Weston then approached another group of officers attempting to subdue another rioter and shoved those officers.

            Weston then left this area and moved up the northwest stairs to the Upper West Terrace and entered the Capitol building through a broken window next to the Senate Wing door. Weston remained in the building only briefly before exiting through the Senate Wing Door and making his way to the North Portico. 

            Court documents say that law enforcement officers removed Weston and others from the North Portico, and Weston then left the area and traveled to the northeast corner of the Capitol grounds, where he found a group of rioters vandalizing media equipment. Weston and other rioters then kicked and smashed the equipment. After kicking the equipment, Weston received a bag of stolen media equipment from another rioter and walked away.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Seattle Field Office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Weston as AFO #437 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

           Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.