Justice News

Justice Department Announces Multiple Drug and Firearms Arrests

Thu, 23 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department today announced a multi-agency law enforcement action, targeting armed drug trafficking networks in Washington, D.C., which resulted in 24 arrests in the past nine days. This action follows a surge in additional law enforcement tools and resources announced in January by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland to fight violent crime in Washington, D.C.

Kansas Man Indicted for Stealing 41 Firearms

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A Kansas man was arrested yesterday while crossing the border from Mexico back into the United States after being indicted by a federal grand jury for stealing 41 firearms from a gun store in Raytown, Missouri.

Attorney General Garland & ATF Director Dettelbach Dedicate “The Faces of Gun Violence” Exhibit at ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco Delivers Remarks at ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco Delivers Remarks at ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

I’m honored to be joining all of you today to help open ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit.

Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s Trip to Detroit and Chicago

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Deputy Attorney General (AG) Lisa Monaco traveled to Detroit and Chicago this week to highlight the Justice Department’s work with state and local law enforcement to successfully drive down violent crime across the United States.

Justice Department Launches Carjacking Task Forces in Targeted Areas Across the Country

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department announced that 11 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices have now established a carjacking task force to focus efforts and resources on this important public safety threat.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco Announces New Crime Gun Intelligence Center in Chicago

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco Delivers Remarks Announcing New Crime Gun Intelligence Center in Chicago

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Good morning. It’s great to be back in Chicago and to be here with partners and colleagues from ATF, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Chicago Police Department, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco Announces New Crime Gun Intelligence Center in Chicago

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Alongside state and local law enforcement partners in Chicago, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced today the opening of a new Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) in Chicago.

DOJ Publishes New Rule to Update Definition of “Engaged in the Business” as a Firearms Dealer

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Justice Department Publishes New Rule to Update Definition of “Engaged in the Business” as a Firearms Dealer

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department today announced it has submitted to the Federal Register the “Engaged in the Business” Final Rule, which makes clear the circumstances in which a person is “engaged in the business” of dealing in firearms and thus required to obtain a federal firearms license, in order to increase compliance with the federal background check requirement for firearm sales by federal firearms licensees.

Principal Drug and Weapons Supplier for MS-13 in Honduras Arrested and Extradited for Racketeering, Narcotics, and Firearms Offenses

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

An indictment was unsealed today charging David Campbell, also known as Viejo Dan and Don David, 57, of Honduras, one of the principal narcotics and weapons suppliers to MS-13 in Honduras, with racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses.

Justice Department Announces Publication of Third Volume of National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department today announced the publication of Firearm Trafficking Investigations, the third volume of the National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA), a four-part, comprehensive examination of commerce in firearms and the diversion of firearms to illegal markets. This Volume incorporates input from the most comprehensive national survey of the special agents who conduct Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) trafficking investigations to provide the first in-depth analysis of firearm trafficking investigations in more than two decades. This report examines 9,708 closed ATF firearm trafficking investigations initiated between CY 2017 and 2021. In April 2021, Attorney General Garland directed the ATF to undertake its first comprehensive study of criminal gun trafficking, the intentional movement of one or more firearms into the illegal market for a criminal purpose or possession.

Five Arrested in South Texas for Allegedly Trafficking Military Grade Firearms to Mexican Drug Cartel

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Five individuals were arrested in Laredo, Hebbronville, and Falls City, Texas, last week for allegedly trafficking military grade firearms to a drug cartel in Mexico.

Justice Department Launches the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department launched the National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Resource Center (the Center) which will provide training and technical assistance to law enforcement officials, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, clinicians, victim service and social service providers, community organizations, and behavioral health professionals responsible for implementing laws designed to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a threat to themselves or others.

‘King’ of Violent Haitian Gang Pleads Guilty to Gun Smuggling and Money Laundering After Government’s Case

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Joly Germine, 31, of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, the self-described “King” of a notoriously violent Haitian gang known as 400 Mawozo, pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in a gunrunning conspiracy that smuggled firearms to Haiti in violation of U.S. export laws, and the laundering of ransoms paid for U.S. hostages to the gang in 2021.

Justice Department Marks More Than 500 Illegal Firearm Purchases Stopped by New Enhanced Background Checks

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On June 25, 2022, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) into law. Among other provisions aimed at reducing gun violence, BSCA requires the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to conduct an enhanced background check before any sale or transfer of a firearm to a person under the age of 21 (U21). In addition to the traditional records databases reviewed during a standard background check, these U21 checks involve expanded outreach by the FBI’s NICS Section to state and local officials who may have access to additional disqualifying information.

Fourteen Members of Major Drug Organization That Trafficked Hundreds of Kilograms of Cocaine and Fentanyl Sentenced

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Fourteen members of a major drug organization that trafficked hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area and illegally possessed firearms in support of that operation, were sentenced today, following a two-year investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Justice Department Announces Numerous Firearms, Illegal Narcotics, and Conspiracy Charges in Multi-Agency Take Down

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department today announced that 20 individuals were charged in federal court in connection with firearms-trafficking, narcotics, conspiracy, or other firearms offenses after a targeted violent crime reduction initiative in West Columbia, South Carolina. The indictments are a result of a series of coordinated arrests made following a targeted multi-agency operation that spanned several months.

Justice Department Publishes Model Legislation to Help States Reduce Gun Violence and Improve Gun Safety

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department published two pieces of model legislation for states to consider to help address the continuing epidemic of gun violence affecting communities across the country. The model legislation is drawn from commonsense gun-safety statutes already on the books in a broad cross-section of states.

Two Texas Men Sentenced to Prison for Firearms Trafficking to Mexico

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Two Texas men were sentenced to prison for their roles in firearms trafficking to Mexico.

Twenty-Three Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Racketeering, Drug Trafficking, and Firearm Charges

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

A 12-count indictment was unsealed in the Northern District of Georgia charging 23 defendants – all alleged Sex Money Murder (SMM) gang members and associates – with crimes including racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, and firearms violations.

Forty-One Charged with Illegal Trafficking, Possession, and Use of Firearms, Drug Trafficking and Conspiracy Offenses as a Result of Summer Violent Crime Reduction Effort “Operation Big Easy” in New Orleans

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Federal and local law-enforcement officials announced today that 41 individuals were charged in connection with firearms-trafficking, drug-distribution, conspiracy, and other offenses following a three-month violent crime reduction initiative in New Orleans this summer.

Twenty-One Charged with Firearms, Illegal Drugs, and Conspiracy Offenses Following Multi-Agency Violent Crime Reduction Effort in Memphis, Tennessee

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Federal and local law-enforcement officials announced today that 21 individuals were charged in connection with firearms-trafficking, drug-distribution, conspiracy, and other offenses as part of a targeted violent crime reduction initiative in Memphis, Tennessee. The indictments are the result of a series of coordinated arrests made following a months-long multi-agency operation.