Thursday, April 30, 2015

Syracuse Man Sentenced for Drug and Gun Offenses



SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – A man who previously had been found guilty in December 2014 by a federal jury of Possessing with the Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine; Possessing a Gun in Furtherance of his Drug Dealing; and being a Felon in Possession of a Gun, was sentenced to a term of incarceration in U. S. District Court in Syracuse. SHAEEM GRADY (A/K/A SHAHEEM GRADY), 29, of Syracuse, NY, was sentenced to 75 months incarceration, 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $300 by Senior, U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., according to U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.

GRADY was arrested on March 22, 2013, when Syracuse police officers observed a baggie of crack cocaine in his lap as GRADY sat in the passenger seat of a car illegally parked on Catawba Street. Police attempted to place GRADY under arrest but GRADY violently resisted them while attempting to gain access to the center console of the vehicle where a loaded handgun was later recovered.

During GRADY’s struggle with the police he told the driver of the vehicle to “pull off, drive away” while the officers were trying to physically remove him from the car. Officers were eventually able to take GRADY into custody. Later, as GRADY was walked to the Public Safety Building he stated to one of the officers “I wasn’t going to kill you.” GRADY was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2002 conviction for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.

This prosecution resulted from an investigation conducted by the Syracuse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Brown. Further questions may be directed to Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney John Duncan at (315) 448-0672.

U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Williamsport Attempted Murder Fugitive in Philadelphia



Williamsport, PA – Today, U.S. Marshal Martin Pane announced the arrest of Michael Spencer, a 32-year old man, on charges of criminal attempt – homicide and other related offenses.

Earlier today, Deputy U.S. Marshals and task force officers arrested Spencer without incident near Baring and N. Wiota Streets in Philadelphia. Spencer was turned over to local authorities pending his extradition back to Lycoming County.

Spencer was charged by the Williamsport Police Department for a shooting incident that took place on April 18, 2015 outside of Club Imbibe in the city. It is alleged that Spencer shot into a crowd of people shortly after getting into a verbal argument with other club patrons. Multiple individuals were struck by gunfire. Several sustained serious life-threatening wounds.

United States Marshal Martin J. Pane stated, “The coordination and cooperation demonstrated by law enforcement in this case led directly to a dangerous fugitive being taken off the streets. It is our top priority to arrest violent crime fugitives, especially those who have no regard for human life.”

The USMS worked jointly in this investigation with personnel from the Williamsport Police Department, Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office and United States Marshals Service personnel from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

U.S. Marshals Task Force Captures Jackson Homicide Suspect in West Virginia



Jackson, MI - The U.S. Marshals, the Michigan State Police, and the Jackson Police Department announce the arrest of a Michigan man who is wanted for open murder and felony firearm in Jackson, Michigan.

Troy Desean Johnson, 26, is accused of killing Jason Brewer on February 17. Brewer was found dead inside a running vehicle from apparent gunshot wounds. The vehicle was discovered lodged in a snow bank in front of a residence in the 400 block of Randolph Street in Jackson after police received a report of gunshots in that area.

Investigators from the joint Marshals/Michigan State Police Lansing Area Fugitive Task Force in Lansing adopted the fugitive case in early April. The investigation led the task force to West Virginia, where authorities determined Johnson was in the city of Charleston. Deputy Marshals and officers from the U.S. Marshals Joint Fugitive Task Force in West Virginia joined the investigation and developed further information on Johnson's whereabouts and narrowed it to an address of one of his associates.

On April 29, authorities discovered Johnson was possibly in a grey Toyota vehicle with Ohio license plates. The vehicle was located in Charleston and before a traffic stop could be conducted, the driver stopped and fled from the vehicle. Task force members and local officers secured the occupants of the vehicle and pursued and captured the driver. Johnson was identified as one of the passengers and was arrested without further incident at approximately 12 p.m.

Johnson will be held at the South Central Regional Jail in Charleston to await extradition back to Michigan on the pending homicide charges.