HOUSTON – A number of dozen felons have been charged with various offenses associated to the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition all through Harris County, introduced U.S. Lawyer Alamdar S. Hamdani.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led a 90-day surge with the help of the FBI, Houston Police Division (HPD), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and the Harris County District Lawyer’s Workplace (HCDA). Over the course of these days, 44 individuals have been indicted and 6 others charged by felony criticism as being felons illegally in possession of firearms or ammunition. To date, 36 have been arrested. Warrants stay excellent for 14 others.
The purpose was to assist cut back firearms-related violent crime and to help in lowering the backlog of felon in possession instances all through the county. The backlog had allowed beforehand convicted felons who’re arrested with a firearm to stay in our group for a number of months, generally years, earlier than they confronted a trial.
The surge concerned over a dozen investigators, an intelligence analysis specialist in addition to prosecutors on each the state and federal ranges.
It’s in live performance with the hassle to fight violent crime within the space.
Nonetheless, this effort is just not over nor restricted to Harris County. Regulation enforcement continues to focus on these related felons who doubtlessly pose a hazard to the group. Simply this morning, one other man – an alleged gang member within the Navasota space – was in federal courtroom for a detention listening to. He once more is a convicted felon, now federally charged with illegally possessing a firearm.
The federal firearms costs carry potential phrases of imprisonment of as much as 10 or 15 years relying on the offense date and most fines of $250,000.
The ATF performed the investigations with the help of the FBI, HPD, USMS and the HCDA. A wide range of Assistant U.S. Attorneys all through the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace are dealing with the instances.
An indictment or felony criticism is a proper accusation of felony conduct, not proof. A defendant is presumed harmless except convicted by due strategy of regulation.