Columbia Man Sentenced for Straw Purchasing Firearms

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Marquel Davon Foster, age 23, of Columbia, South Carolina was sentenced today in federal court after earlier pleading guilty to making a false statement in the acquisition of firearms from a federal firearms licensee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(a)(6) and 924(a)(2). Senior United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour sentenced Foster to 18 months imprisonment, followed by three (3) years of supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that in January 2013, during the execution of a drug search warrant in Bridgeton, NJ, officers recovered a Masterpiece Arms .45 caliber pistol with a high capacity magazine. A trace of the firearm revealed that it was purchased by Foster in Columbia, SC in on February 6, 2012. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) determined that Foster had purchased a total of six (6) firearms, comprised of two (2) firearms on February 6, 2012, two (2) firearms on February 8, 2012, and two (2) additional firearms on March 7, 2012. When agents approached Foster, he claimed that the Masterpiece Arms .45 caliber pistol with a high capacity magazine had been stolen a year earlier, but that he had the other five (5) firearms in his possession. When agents asked to see those five (5) firearms, Foster admitted that he did not have them and that he had purchased them for an individual from New Jersey that he met at the gun store in exchange for money. Foster stated that the individual, who he knew only by a nickname, gave him money, and asked Foster to purchase the firearms for him since he was unable to legally purchase them because he was a felon. Foster admitted to making a false statement on the forms to purchase the firearms and to purchasing a total of six (6) firearms for this individual in approximately a one-month period. The six (6) firearms were a Hi-Point .380 caliber pistol, a Masterpiece Arms .45 caliber pistol, a European American Arms, Corp. .357 caliber revolver, a Ruger 9mm pistol, a Taurus .40 caliber pistol, and a Masterpiece Arms 9mm pistol. Only one (1) of those firearms has been recovered as of this date.

The case was investigated by ATF and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.

30 Individuals Indicted for Trafficking Drugs

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On September 18, 2014, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against 30 defendants charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Today DEA and ATF agents and officers of the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), executed the arrest warrants.

The object of the conspiracy was to distribute controlled substances at the Las Mesetas Public Housing Project located within the Municipality of Arecibo, Puerto Rico since 2008. This organization would purchase wholesale quantities of heroin, cocaine, and marihuana in order to distribute the same in street quantity amounts at their drug distribution points in Las Mesetas. These drug points would have fixed prices for types of drugs in order to maintain the parity of the sales. The leader and drug point owner would have other members of the organization administrating the daily activities of the drug distribution point.

Some of the cocaine purchased at wholesale quantities would be converted into crack cocaine, “cooked”, for subsequent sale and distribution at the drug points. The organization would use residences located within Las Mesetas and other locations outside the housing project to conceal drugs, drug paraphernalia, firearms and ammunitions. Some of the defendants would routinely possess, carry, brandish, and use firearms to protect themselves and further their drug trafficking organization.

The main leader of the drug trafficking organization, Jorge Sanchez-Sostre aka “Georgie” had control of the drug distribution points located within Las Mesetas through three co-defendants also acting as drug point owners. These drug point owners were Yadira Casanova-Avila, Jonathan Beltran-Perez aka “Puruco”, and Christian Sanchez-Sostre. The leaders of the organization had the final approving authority as to the disciplinary actions to be imposed upon residents of Las Mesetas and members of the conspiracy.

“Today’s arrests demonstrate our commitment to dismantle drug trafficking organizations which, through their illicit business, are affecting the quality of life of the law abiding citizens in our public housing projects.” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “ We will continue our hard work to maintain the peace in our neighborhoods.”

“ATF's FRONTLINE strategy in protecting Americans and our communities from violent crime is our number one priority. Today's Las Mesetas case, is just another example of ATF's efforts of working hand in hand with our DEA and PRPD law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Hugo Barrera, Miami Field Division. “We will work together to eradicate violent gun and drug related crime and dismantle Drug Trafficking Organizations such as this one.”

“DEA will continue to work hand in hand with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Puerto Rico Police Department, U.S. Marshal Service, Puerto Rico National Guard, Puerto Rico Housing Department, Special Investigations Bureau, Ports of Authority and the Department of Corrections, in effort to disrupt and dismantle all the violent drug trafficking organizations that utilizes firearms to intimidate and operate there drug points out of the Public Housing Projects and other communities for financial gain. These Drug Trafficking Organizations will not be allowed to continue nor expand their operations”. Said Vito Salvatore Guarino, Special Agent In Charge of the DEA Caribbean Division.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor Acevedo and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Erbe are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendants face a sentence of not less than twenty (20) years of imprisonment and up to life under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 846 and 860 and a minimum sentence of not less than five (5) years of imprisonment and up to life under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

$5,000 Reward Offered for the Location and Arrest of Fugitive Matthew Dion

Wanted for Double Homicide of his parents, Arson & Possession of Child Pornography

Concord, NH – A $5000.00 reward is being offered by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force for information leading to the location and arrest of fugitive, Matthew Thomas Dion. Dion is wanted by the Manchester, New Hampshire Police Department on outstanding arrest warrants for 2 counts of 2nd Degree Murder, Arson and Possession of Child Pornography, all of which are relating to the arson fire and homicides of Dion’s parents in March, 2014.

Matthew Dion, age 38 was last known to reside in Manchester, NH and his whereabouts have been unknown since March 24th, the day an arson fire destroyed the family home on Mooresville Road. Tragically, after the fire was extinguished, the deceased parents of Matthew Dion were discovered murdered inside the residence. During the extensive crime scene investigation conducted by the Manchester Police Department, enough evidence was collected to charge Matthew Dion with the homicides of both of his parents, the arson fire, which was set after the homicides and possession of child pornography.

2013 Hyundai ElantraInformation recently developed indicates that Dion is possibly in Florida. Dion was last seen in St. Petersburg, Florida on September 5th, when he allegedly stole a silver 2013 Hyundai Elantra, with FL tag G673WH . Dion has a history of changing license plates to avoid detection and is possibly living in this car. Dion should be considered to be ARMED & DANGEROUS at this time! It is also possible that Dion has changed his physical appearance in an effort to conceal his identity (photos below and here).

Dion could be anywhere, but he has extensive history in the Southeastern United States, specifically the Atlanta, Georgia area and Florida. It is important to remind the public not to attempt to apprehend Dion, but to report any information to the U.S. Marshals Service or their local police To speak with the case agents, Deputy U.S. Marshal Greg Murano or Task Force Officer Daniel Doherty, please call the U.S. Marshals in NH at (603) 225-1632, or call 1-877-WANTED-2, or submit a WEB-TIP, or Send a Text message that begins with NHTIP followed by any information to TIP411.