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Eastern District of Texas
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: DAVILYN WALSTON | |
| TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2009 | PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER | |
| WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/txe | PHONE: (409) 839-2538 CELL: (409) 553-9881 |
FEDERAL INDICTMENTS RETURNED IN EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
TYLER, TX – U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that two East Texas men have been indicted in separate cases in the Eastern District of Texas.
MICHAEL LAPLACE, 22, of Mount Pleasant, TX, was indicted on charges of possessing and attempting to sell stolen firearms. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison .
According to the indictment, on June 16, 2009, LaPlace knowingly tried to sell at least 10 stolen firearms, which had been shipped in interstate commerce.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin.
ROBERT RICHARDSON, 66, of Edgewood, TX, was indicted on charges of possessing and uttering counterfeit obligations of the United States. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison .
According to the indictment, on May 6, 2009, Richardson passed a $100 bill at the Wendy's restaurant on Hwy. 42 in Kilgore, TX. The clerk suspected the bill was counterfeit and was able to stall Richardson until police arrived. Police found ten additional counterfeit $100 bills in Richardson's wallet.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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