Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Two brothers from Bluefield were sentenced today to federal prison for their roles in federal drug and gun charges, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Tyquon Freeman, 21, of Bluefield, West Virginia, was sentenced to 81 months in federal prison.  Tykeem Freeman, 25, also from Bluefield, was sentenced to federal prison for 70 months.   Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

“These brothers, just 21 and 25 years old, were both already convicted felons and on parole when caught up in criminal activity again last year,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “The Freemans are the type of defendants we are prosecuting under our Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative in an effort to remove the most chronic violent offenders from our communities.”

Tyquon Freeman previously entered a guilty pleas to possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.   Tyquon Freeman previously admitted that on two separate dates in April, 2018, he sold marijuana to a confidential informant working with the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.  On April 19, 2018, agents with the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and ATF executed a search warrant at Freeman’s house in Bluefield, West Virginia, where the prior drug transactions had occurred.  When the agents entered the residence, they found approximately ten pounds of marijuana, some of which Freeman admitted he intended to distribute in exchange for money.  Officers also found three firearms.  Tyquon Freeman also admitted that he acquired one of the firearms to protect his drugs and drug proceeds, even though he knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearms because he was a convicted felon.  Freeman further admitted that at the time he committed this offense, he was still on parole out of the state of Virginia.  Freeman was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of a 2017 drug-related felony conviction in Tazewell County, Virginia.

Tykeem Freeman previously entered a guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.  During the plea hearing, Tykeem Freeman admitted that on April 19, 2018, agents with the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and ATF executed a search warrant at the house he was living in with his brother.  When the agents entered the residence, Freeman was in possession of a Ruger, LCP .380 semi-automatic pistol.  He also admitted that he attempted to hide the pistol from law enforcement officers because he knew he was not supposed to possess any firearms because he was a convicted felon.  He further admitted that at the time he committed this offense, he also was on parole out of the state of Virginia.  Tykeem Freeman was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because he was previously convicted of a drug-related felony in Tazewell County, Virginia, in 2016.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecutions.  Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentences.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The United States Attorney General reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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