Six Men Sentenced for Attempted Armed Robbery
Conspirators Caught Through Sting Conducted by ATF’s Violent Crimes Task Force
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Six men from Philadelphia have been sentenced to as much as 30 years in prison for conspiring to conduct an armed home invasion robbery of a drug stash house in Fairfax County.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Rich Marianos, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division; Colonel David Rohrer, Fairfax County Chief of Police, and Stan Barry, Fairfax County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Liam O’Grady.
“These men offered themselves as experienced, professional armed robbers for hire,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “They arrived in Virginia armed and ready for action, planning to steal as much cocaine and money as they could lay their hands on and willing to kill if anyone made the wrong move. They were caught because law enforcement got a toehold into their organization through undercover work in the criminal world of cigarette smuggling. We’re intent on removing those criminal organizations that are using the profits from cigarette smuggling to flood our streets with narcotics, firearms and violence.”
“I'd like to commend the ATF agents and Fairfax County Police and Sheriff's detectives for their outstanding work in putting these violent and dangerous criminals behind bars,” said Acting ATF Special Agent in Charge Rich Marianos. “The Northern Virginia Violent Crimes Task Force was created to do just what was done in this investigation-pool the talents and expertise of our agents and law enforcement partners to put violent criminals behind bars so they can no longer prey on innocent citizens.”
Senh Phun, 31; Khem Un, 27; Saraeun Min, 25; Marc Eric Johnson, 26; Jan Stevens, 29, and James McCallister, 27, all of Philadelphia, Pa., were convicted on March 18, 2011, of conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of firearms in furtherance of the robbery conspiracy. Phun, Un, Min, and Johnson were also convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Today, Phun was sentenced to 270 months; Un was sentenced to 300 months; and McCallister was sentenced to 120 months in prison. On July 1, 2011, Stevens was sentenced to 360 months; Johnson to 300 months; and Min to 195 months in prison.
According to court records and evidence at trial, in June 2010, a confidential informant advised law enforcement that Phun was interested in conducting a home invasion robbery. Undercover detectives provided Phun with the opportunity to rob a drug stash location in Fairfax County, Va. On Oct. 28, 2010, Phun’s associates – Un, Min, Johnson, Stevens and McCallister – arrived in Fairfax County armed with five handguns, latex gloves, and restraints to commit the robbery. After undercover detectives confirmed each man’s intention to commit the robbery, all five men were arrested. Phun was arrested in Philadelphia on the same day.
This case was investigated by the ATF Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes personnel from the Fairfax County Police Department and Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Mary K. Daly and Special Assistant United States Attorney Marc J. Birnbaum are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.
