Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Baltimore, Maryland – Following an investigation of firearms trafficking in Baltimore City, a federal grand jury has indicted five defendants in three separate cases, on firearms related charges including: unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm; possession of a firearm and/or ammunition by an illegal alien, possession and sale of a stolen firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictments were returned on June 3, 2015, and unsealed upon the arrest of the defendants. 

The indictments were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Ivan Arvelo of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department. 

“These cases resulted from an intensive ATF investigation of firearms trafficking in Baltimore City,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Federal agents are working with police and prosecutors to stop the flow of guns into Baltimore.”

According to their indictments David Boj-Perez, a/k/a “David Salomon Boj,” and “Daniel,” age 31; Estelle Julia Lewis, age 28; and Philip Samuel Simmons, age 39, all of Baltimore, illegally possessed an unregistered firearm, specifically, a sawed-off 12 gauge shotgun.  They each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

In a separate indictment, Kevin Mauricio Guzman Rivera, age 21, and Raymond Escobar, a/k/a “Ray,” age 35, both of Baltimore, are charged with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, respectively, in addition to drug conspiracy and related charges. Rivera faces a maximum sentencing of 10 in prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.  Escobar also faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Rivera and Escobar also face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and for the drug conspiracy. 

The defendants had an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.  Boj-Perez and Escobar are detained.  Rivera was already in custody and remains detained. Simmons and Lewis were detained pending detention hearings scheduled for Monday, June 8, 2015.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, HSI-Baltimore, and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth S. Clark and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Flagg, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney assigned as part of the Baltimore initiative to combat violent crime, who are prosecuting these Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force cases.

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