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Department of Justice United States Attorney David L. Huber Contact: Sandy Focken |
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April 15, 2008
LOUISVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH FEDERAL FIREARMS OFFENSES
– Indictment alleges he possessed firearms and ammunition on four separate occasions
LOUISVILLE, KY - James Simpson, age 39, of Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County, was arrested today on an arrest warrant issued after an Indictment was returned against him in U.S. District Court in Louisville, Kentucky. On April 7th, 2008, the federal grand jury in Louisville, returned an indictment against Simpson on charges of possessing firearms and ammunition after he had been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, U.S. Attorney David L. Huber of the Western District of Kentucky, and Paul Vido, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Louisville Field Division, jointly announced today.
The Indictment alleges that on September 10, 2007, Simpson possessed a .357 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, and that two days later, on September 12, 2007, he possessed a Ruger .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol. Between July 17, 2007 and September 30, 2007, the Indictment goes on to allege, Simpson possessed three firearms: a Browning Model 20 12 gauge shotgun, a Marlin 336CS 30-30 rifle, and one High Standard Sentinel Deluxe .22 caliber pistol. Finally, the Indictment alleges that on January 15, 2008, Simpson possessed sixty-six rounds of .357 magnum caliber ammunition. According to the Indictment, Simpson had previously been convicted in the Jefferson County, Kentucky District Court of fourth degree assault, a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Federal law prohibits persons who have been convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence from possessing firearms or ammunition.
In the event of a conviction, the maximum potential penalties are 40 years imprisonment, fines totaling $1,000,000, and supervised release for a period of 3 years.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas W. Dyke. The Louisville Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation in partnership with the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department and the Kentucky Department of Probation and Parole as part of ATFs mission to reduce violent crime and other threats to public safety.
Simpson was arraigned on the Indictment and trial is scheduled for May 29th, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. Louisville, Kentucky.
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The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation
only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless
proven guilty.
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