Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Crime Gun Intelligence Center Assists Federal and Local Law Enforcement
Two Defendants Charged with Firearms Offenses
INDIANAPOLIS- United States Attorney Josh J. Minker announced that Jaylen Brancheau and Donaven Meadows have been charged in federal court in separate criminal complaints. Brancheau has been charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense, and providing a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Meadows has been charged with possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
“In bringing charges against these individuals, we send a strong message that illegal gun possession will not be tolerated and individuals that break the law will receive the strongest sentencing possible,” said Minkler. “CGIC connects the dots between crime guns and trigger pullers. The facts alleged in these two cases demonstrate exactly what CGIC was created to do.”
These arrests were made possible by the joint efforts of the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIC), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), and the Greenwood Police Department (GPD).
CGIC is an interagency collaboration focused on the immediate collection, management, and analysis of crime gun evidence, such as shell casings, in real time, in an effort to identify shooters, disrupt criminal activity, and prevent future violence. The primary outcome of CGIC is identifying armed violent offenders for investigation and prosecution.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey D. Preston. Brancheau, if convicted, faces possible life imprisonment, and Meadows faces up to 20 years in prison.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting those who engage in violent crime using firearms. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan 2.3.