Memphis, TN – United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz has announced the federal indictments of ten individuals charged with firearm and violent crime offenses in West Tennessee. Attorney Ritz emphasized his office’s commitment to prosecuting individuals involved in violent crimes, illegal possession of machine-gun conversion devices (also known as “switches”), and other federal firearm offenses.
“These individuals are alleged to have committed serious federal crimes involving firearms or violent activities,” stated United States Attorney Ritz. “Our office will continue collaborating with the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force and other law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime in our community. The citizens of Memphis and Shelby County deserve to feel safe.”
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The following individuals were charged with federal crimes involving switches:
– **Wayne Sanders, 31**: Indicted for being a felon in possession of firearms and possessing a machine gun on February 24, 2024. A superseding indictment on August 29, 2024, added four more counts related to his arrest in April 2024, including possession of a machine gun, being a felon in possession of a firearm, assault of a Task Force Officer, and brandishing a firearm during the assault on a federal officer.
– **Myles Bowens, 22**: Indicted on August 29, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device.
– **Taveon Earnest, 20**: Indicted on August 29, 2024, for possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device.
– **Actavious Ellis, 30**: Indicted on August 29, 2024, for possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device.
The following individuals were charged with other firearm or violent crime offenses:
– **Nathenael Tekle, 23**: Indicted on August 29, 2024, for four armed business robberies in Memphis, committed over a 10-day span in October and November 2023. Charged with four counts of robbery and four counts of brandishing a firearm during the robberies.
– **Caran Stokes, 26**: Indicted on August 29, 2024, on one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during the carjacking.
– **Tony Thomas, 27**: Indicted on August 29, 2024, on one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during the carjacking.
– **Pierre Jones, 34**: Indicted on August 29, 2024, for possession of a firearm after having at least three prior convictions for serious drug offenses or violent felonies.
– **Marcus Oher, 26**: Indicted on August 29, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm on two different occasions.
– **Jermaine Cooper, 35**: Indicted on August 29, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
These cases are under investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force; the Project Safe Neighborhoods Gun Task Force; the Memphis Police Department; and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information about switches or other federal gun crimes can call 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867).
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
These indictments are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that unites all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy to strengthen PSN, based on fostering community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, using data-driven methods for focused enforcement, and measuring results.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked the Assistant United States Attorneys prosecuting these cases and the law enforcement partners who investigated the cases.
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
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Lane Closures in West Tennessee: Aug 28 – Sep 4, 2024
Temporary lane closures will occur across various locations in West Tennessee from August 28 to September 4, 2024, to facilitate construction and maintenance work on several state routes and interstates.