Week of February 1, 2010
Columbus Division of Police responded to a drug-related homicide in the parking lot of an apartment complex where the victim sustained a fatal gunshot wound. ATF’s Washington (DC) Field Office identified a firearms trafficking ring that had trafficked firearms from Columbus to the Washington metropolitan area. ATF and Columbus Division of Police identified the primary trafficking suspect in Columbus as a person of interest in the homicide investigation. In November 2005, Washington Metropolitan Police Department recovered a firearm from a suspect that drew a firearm on an undercover officer during an undercover buy/bust operation. ATF traced the firearm to the firearms trafficking ring in Columbus. Using NIBIN, Columbus Division of Police matched the firearm to the homicide. In June 2008, following arrest and conviction for Federal firearms violations, the primary trafficking suspect was sentenced to 3 years Federal imprisonment. In May 2009, following conviction for involuntary manslaughter in Ohio, the same defendant was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment to be served consecutive to the Federal sentence.
Week of February 8, 2010
From March 29, 2003 through Feb. 28, 2006, Albany Police Department responded to 40 shooting incidents, including 8 gang-related attempted murders. At the shooting scenes, officers collected spent ammunition fired from 6 separate firearms. Subsequently, Albany Police Department arrested one Jungle Junkies Gang member for unlawful possession of a 40 cal pistol and later, another Jungle Junkies Gang member for unlawful possession of a 9mm pistol. Using NIBIN, New York State Police Forensic Lab was able to link the .40 caliber pistol to 4 of the shootings, including the attempted murders of 3 OGK Gang members; and the 9mm pistol to 4 additional shootings, including the attempted murders of 2 OGK Gang members. In response to the violence, ATF, FBI, DEA, Albany Police Department, and the US Attorney’s Office formed a task force and initiated a RICO investigation of the Jungle Junkies Gang, an armed drug trafficking organization that was suspected to have committed several homicides and numerous assaults in Albany and the Capital District Region. Ultimately, task force officers executed two 2 search warrants and arrested thirty 30 defendants. In furtherance of the RICO prosecution, and in addition to drug trafficking and firearms crimes, federal prosecutors charged all 8 attempted murders as RICO crimes. From Oct. 2006 to Jan 2009, following guilty pleas, 29 of 30 defendants pled guilty. The sentencings ranged up to 15 years imprisonment. On February 15, 2010, following trial conviction, the 30th defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Week of February 15, 2010
On April 16, 2008, Wilmington Police Department responded to a homicide where the victim was shot and killed on a neighborhood sidewalk. That same day, New Castle County Police Department stopped a vehicle containing two subjects for a traffic violation, recovered a .32 caliber revolver, and arrested both suspects for unlawful possession of a firearm. Using NIBIN, Delaware State Police Forensic Firearms Service Unit was able to link the firearm to the homicide. Both suspects were charged with murder, robbery and State firearms violations. On July 15, 2009 following guilty pleas to manslaughter, both defendants were each sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
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