Ocoee Man Convicted of Aiding and Abetting Attempted Commercial Robbery

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury yesterday found Jacques Maddox (22, Ocoee) guilty of one count of aiding and abetting the attempted robbery of a Walgreens store located at 5501 South Kirkman Road in Orlando. Maddox faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 10, 2014. Maddox was indicted on April 2, 2014.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on the night of September 2, 2013, Maddox and his friend Joe E. Clinton went to the Walgreens store on South Kirkman Road. After casing the store for hours, Maddox and Clinton walked into the store for the final time around 11:00 p.m. The men split up, and while Maddox took his position as a lookout near the center of the Walgreens, Clinton forced the store’s manager inside the office and pulled out a gun. Clinton then demanded that the manager open the store’s safe, threatening to shoot him if he didn’t do as he was told. When the manager refused to comply with Clinton’s demands, Clinton pistol whipped the manager, striking him several times in the head and shoulders with his gun. Clinton then ran out of the office, met up with Maddox in the middle of the store, and pulled his gun on other employees and store customers as he and Maddox fled.

On March 24, 2014, Clinton pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the attempted robbery of the Walgreens on September 2, 2013, one count of robbery of a CVS store located at 1201 East Colonial Drive in Orlando, on September 10, 2013, and two counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to those violent crimes. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the attempted robbery and robbery counts. For the firearms convictions, Clinton faces a combined mandatory minimum sentence of 32 years’ imprisonment, to run consecutively to any other prison term imposed. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 25, 2014.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, and the Orlando Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Schuster.

Lilburn Resident Sentenced For Illegal Possession of Firearms

ATLANTA - Kevin S. Lahey has been sentenced to serve seven years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing seven firearms while being an unlawful user of controlled substances.

“The significant sentence imposed by the Court serves as a warning that illegal possession of a firearm will be taken seriously by the United States,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “Here, federal and local law enforcement agencies were able to work together to avert what could have been a tragedy by identifying and arresting Kevin Lahey before he could use his weapons to harm others in the community.”

“ATF’s involvement in securing this sentence is a prime example of the successful use of federal laws to confront, engage and eliminate criminal activity by staying on the frontline of preventing violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Shaefer. “Criminals must understand that there are serious repercussions for the illegal possession of firearms and that ATF and our law enforcement partners will contribute all necessary time and effort to ensure criminals are brought to justice.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: On February 6, 2013, a man, later identified as Lahey, stole two silencers from a Lawrenceville, Ga., firearms dealer. Three days later, police in Snellville, Ga., arrested Lahey in connection with a shoplifting incident at Wal-Mart where he allegedly attempted to steal two laser sights, a rifle bi-pod stand, and a holster. Lahey resisted arrest when officers attempted to take him into custody. Officers report that, during that scuffle, Lahey dropped a loaded handgun. After his arrest, Lahey was released on bond on February 10, 2013. As a result of this shoplifting arrest, Snellville police were able to identify Lahey as the individual who stole the silencers on February 6, 2013, and they notified the ATF.

A short time later, an ATF task force officer obtained a warrant for Lahey’s arrest and a search warrant for his residence. On February 25, 2013, officers and agents from both the ATF and the Gwinnett County Police Department executed the search warrant. During that search, investigators found one of the stolen silencers attached to a .22 caliber pistol. They later returned and found the second silencer in the crawlspace underneath the home of Lahey’s parents. Neither silencer was registered to Lahey in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by federal law. Also during the search, investigators found multiple firearms - including three rifles and four handguns - in Lahey’s possession. In addition to the firearms, agents seized over 10,000 rounds of ammunition, military-style and hunting knives, marijuana, bongs, drug pipes and other drug paraphernalia, and a body armor fragmentation protective vest.

Lahey, 27, of Lilburn, Ga., has been sentenced to seven years, three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was indicted on federal firearms charges on May 21, 2013. On December 2, 2013, Lahey pleaded guilty to the illegal possession of seven firearms while being an unlawful user of controlled substances.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Huber prosecuted the case.

Gaston Man Indicted for Being Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney’s Office announces today that Warren Dominque McDaniel, age 27, of Gaston, South Carolina was arrested today after being charged in a 2-count federal indictment. McDaniel was charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). The maximum penalty McDaniel could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The indictment stems from an April 14, 2014, shooting incident in Gaston and from a July 22, 2010, incident in Columbia. The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Columbia Police Department, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Duluth Felon Sentenced For Possessing Two Firearms

MINNEAPOLIS—Recently in federal court, a 37-year-old Duluth felon was sentenced for possessing a nine-millimeter pistol and a .357-caliber revolver. On June 10, 2014, United States District Court Judge Paul A. Magnuson sentenced Ronald Paris Riles to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

According to the indictment and the evidence presented at the trial, Riles possessed the two firearms on February 6, 2013. Because he is a felon, Riles is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm at any time. He was previously convicted in Illinois for first-degree murder (1993) as well as manufacturing and delivering cannabis (2007).

This case was the result of an investigation by the Duluth Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Hollenhorst and Bradley M. Endicott.

Three New Haven Residents Charged With Distributing Crack Cocaine; One Also Faces Gun Charge

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven returned a 10-count indictment yesterday charging three New Haven men with crack cocaine distribution offenses. One defendant is also charged with illegally possessing a firearm.

The indictment alleges that between November 2013 and May 2014, PERRY FLOWERS, also known as “Mel,” 44, MILES PRICE, also known as “Molly Rock,” 25, and TONY BROWN, also known as “Boogie Down,” 35, possessed and distributed crack cocaine.

The indictment further alleges that on April 12, 2014, PRICE possessed a Smith and Wesson, model 29, .44 caliber revolver. Prior to that date, PRICE had been convicted in Connecticut state court of sale of hallucinogen/narcotics (twice), possession of narcotics (twice) and criminal weapon possession. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

FLOWERS, PRICE and BROWN are charged in multiple counts of the indictment with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base (“crack”), an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. PRICE is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

The three defendants were arrested on June 18, 2014, and are currently detained.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter D. Markle and Anthony E. Kaplan.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.