Five people have been taken into custody and federally charged in connection with an alleged firearms trafficking operation that moved dozens of guns from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., and other locations, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday, October 21, that a grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned a 13-count indictment charging the defendants with conspiracy to traffic firearms, firearms trafficking, and making false statements to federally licensed firearms dealers.
According to federal officials, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) executed five arrest warrants on Tuesday, October 20. Four people were detained in Maryland and one in Raleigh.
Investigators believe that the organization trafficked around 40 weapons from North Carolina to recipients in Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Saint George, Grenada.
The indictment mentions five defendants:
- Brian “B” Agee, 40: Charged with conspiracy to traffic firearms, six counts of firearms trafficking and aiding and abetting, and six counts of aiding and abetting false statements to federally licensed firearms dealers.
- Arnise Lecresha Young, 33: Charged with conspiracy to traffic firearms, six counts of aiding and abetting firearms trafficking and six counts of aiding and abetting false statements to federally licensed firearms dealers.
- Frank “Fatboy” Rayvone Harris, 38: Charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms.
- Antonique Whitaker, 34: Charged with conspiracy to traffic firearms, two counts of aiding and abetting firearms trafficking and two counts of aiding and abetting false statements to federally licensed firearms dealers.
- Christian Shedetta Atkinson, 30: Charged with conspiracy to traffic firearms and one count of making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer.
Federal prosecutors said Young and Whitaker had genuine special police officer licenses in Washington, D.C.
The arrests were made as part of D.C. The Safe and Beautiful Task Force is a federal program comprising several law enforcement agencies.
According to U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina, the investigation focused on alleged illicit firearm purchases and trafficking that originated in the state.
“Working with the ATF and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively investigate these scams and prosecute individuals who break federal law.” If you are making bogus purchases to illegally run guns in Eastern North Carolina, we will find you and prosecute you,” Boyle stated.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia also spoke on the multi-state inquiry.
“Gun-running networks do not respect state lines, and neither does our determination to stop them,” Pirro stated.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison for weapons trafficking and conspiracy, as well as 10 years for making false claims to federally registered firearms dealers.
If convicted, a federal judge will set the actual punishment based on sentencing guidelines and other legal circumstances.
The investigation is being led by the ATF.
Leave a Reply