Fort Myers, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill, Virginia O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge for the Tampa Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Fort Myers Police Chief Douglas Baker announce today the unsealing of eight indictments charging eight Fort Myers residents with federal gun violations. The charges include possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession/transfer of an unregistered firearm; possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number; and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense.  These indictments are the culmination of a joint law enforcement operation between ATF and the Fort Myers Police Department (FMPD).  The operation, which began in October 2011 and continued through February 2012, targeted street level distribution of firearms in the City of Fort Myers.  Approximately 40 firearms, including semi-automatic pistols, semi-automatic rifles, sawed-off rifles, sawed-off shotguns, and silencers were recovered by ATF and FMPD.  The indictments notify the individuals that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms which are part of the offenses.            

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fort Myers Police Department.  It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesus M. Casas.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy led by ATF.  United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill, along with Virginia O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

The following individuals were charged as a part of this operation:

Name (age)	Charge
Samer A. Bargouthy (25)	Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (4 Counts)
Mozart Francois (27)	Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Otthman Al Hargy (46)	Possession of an unregistered firearm (sawed-off rifle)
James A. Hitchman (25)	Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Distribution of cocaine Use of/carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense
Wilson Louis (24)	Possession/transfer of an unregistered firearm (silencer, sawed-off rifle, sawed-off shotgun)
Emmanuel Milhomme (30)	Possession/transfer of an unregistered firearm (silencer, sawed-off rifle, sawed-off shotgun)
Eliecer S. Sanchez (24)	Obliterating a firearm serial number (Five counts) Possession/transfer of a firearm with an obliterated serial number
Charles E. Williams, Jr. (18)	Possession/transfer of an unregistered firearm (sawed-off shotgun)
Maximum Penalties per Count Charged
Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon	10 Years in Federal Prison
Possession/transfer of an unregistered firearm offenses	10 Years in Federal Prison
Possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number	5 Years in Federal Prison
Use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking	5 Years in Federal Prison
Distribution of Cocaine	20 Years in Federal Prison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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