Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman announced that the Louisville Federal Grand Jury returned 20 felony indictments charging 23 individuals this month with multiple counts, including firearms violations and possession and distribution of scheduled drugs.  These charges continue to be developed through an ongoing partnership of multiple law enforcement agencies to maximize penalties for the most violent repeat offenders as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.  This month’s federal indictments are in addition to 14 indictments charging 16 individuals this past May and 21 indictments charging 23 individuals this past March totaling 60 PSN defendants so far this calendar year.

“Kentucky families deserve to be safe, regardless of zip code,” stated U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman “This next round of indictments of violent offenders is not the destination, but another step in the journey to deliver on our solemn promise to reduce violent crime in this community.”

 

“ATF is committed to reducing gun violence by arresting prohibited persons and violent offenders who unlawfully possess and use firearms," stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Stuart Lowrey of the Louisville Field Division. “These indictments reflect the ongoing partnership between ATF, Louisville Metro Police Department and other law    enforcement agencies to make our communities safer for everyone.”

 

The crimes charged include being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute Schedule I controlled substances, using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license.  One defendant, Elijah Eubanks, 20, has already been charged with attempted murder by the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney’s office for shooting at a police officer who approached his vehicle; he now faces an additional federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

 

Another defendant, Casey Cooper, 34, despite being warned by federal firearms dealers about the unlawful sale of firearms, continued to purchased firearms parts in bulk, assembled them into weapons, and sold approximately 90 firearms online, most of which were AR-15-style assault rifles. If convicted at trial, the maximum sentence for unlawfully manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license is no more than five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.                                                                                                                                               

 

If convicted at trial, the maximum sentence for unlawfully possessing a firearm is no more than ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.  If that firearm is possessed or used in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a defendant faces a mandatory minimum five years in prison in addition to the sentence received for the underlying charges, and could receive up to life in prison.

 

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joe Ansari, Robert Bonar, Nute Bonner, Bryan Calhoun, Scott Davis, Tom Dyke, Larry Fentress, Marisa Ford, Amanda Gregory, Lettricea Jefferson-Webb, Joshua Judd, Corinne Keel, Daniel Kinnicutt, Erin McKenzie, Spencer McKiness, Randy Ream, Mac Shannon, Amy Sullivan, and Stephanie Zimdahl.  The cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Louisville Metro Police Department, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

          

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to specifically identify the criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Kentucky.  A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Today’s indictments are part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.

 

The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.