Brockton Man Indicted For Federal Firearm And Drug Offenses

BOSTON – A Brockton man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston on firearm and drug charges.

Kawana Tillman, 47, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base. Tillman has prior felony drug conspiracy and firearm convictions. Tillman was arrested on April 30, 2019, and has been in custody since.

The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base carries a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, a minimum of six years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $2 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 30 years in prison, a minimum of six years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $2 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz; Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

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 Department of Justice 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.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.