News and Press Releases

Wichitan Arrested in ATF Sting
Charged With 40 Counts of Firearms Violations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Dec. 6, 2011

WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man arrested in an ATF sting operation has been charged with 40 counts of violating federal firearms laws, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Keandre Johnson, 19, Wichita, Kan., was charged in a superseding indictment with 16 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, 16 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, five counts of unlawful possession of a sawed off shotgun, one count of unlawful transfer of a sawed off shotgun, one count of distributing crack cocaine and one count of distributing marijuana. Co-defendant Jeremy E. Love, 19, was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances.

The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2011 in Sedgwick County, Kan. Johnson was one of 67 defendants first indicted in September as a result of an ATF sting operation in which agents posed as owners of a store called Bandit Trading.

Firearms identified in the superseding indictment include:

– A Taurus model PT22, .22 caliber pistol.
– A Llama model Small Frame, .22 caliber pistol.
– A Ruger model Redhawk, .44 caliber revolver
– A High Standard model Sentinel, .22 caliber revolver.
– A Taurus model PT92, 9mm pistol.
– A Yugoslavia model 59/66, 7.62 caliber rifle.
– A Jimenez Arms model J.A. Nine, 9 mm pistol.
– A Smith and Wesson model SW9VE, 9 mm pistol
– An Ithaca Gun Co. Model 37, 16 gauge shotgun
– A Taurus model The Judge, .45/.410 gauge revolver
– A Smith And Wesson 9 mm pistol
– A Remington model 1100, 12 gauge shotgun,
– A Remington model 10-A, 12 gauge shotgun
– A Maverick Arms model 88 12 gauge shotgun
– A Savage model 67F, 12 gauge shotgun
– A Taurus International model 66, .357 caliber revolver.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
– Unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction: A maximum penalty of 10 years on each count and a fine up to $250,000.
– Unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances: A maximum penalty of 10 years on each count and a fine up to $250,000.
– Unlawful possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number: A maximum penalty of five years on each count and a fine up to $250,000.
– Unlawful possession of a sawed off shotgun: A maximum penalty of 10 years on each count and a fine up to $10,000.
– Unlawful transfer of a sawed off shotgun: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
– Distributing crack cocaine: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.
– Distributing marijuana: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting.


OTHER INDICTMENTS

A grand jury meeting in Wichita, Kan., also returned the following indictments:

Peter Knelssen-Martens, 59, Conocido Campo, Mexico, is charged with one count of money laundering involving $342,730 derived from drug trafficking and one count of attempting to smuggle cash in violation of federal laws. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Dec. 1, 2011, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the money laundering charge and a maximum penalty of five years on the other count. The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. The U.S. Attorney’s office is prosecuting.

Mark Stanton Wyche, 23, Manhattan, Kan., is charged with two counts of bank robbery and one count of armed robbery. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in October and November 2011 in Riley County, Kan.

Wyche initially was charged in a criminal complaint filed Nov. 30, 2011, in U.S. District Court in Topeka. The complaint alleges that on Oct. 4, 2011, he robbed Community First National Bank in Manhattan, Kan., on Nov. 17, 2011, he robbed Kansas State Bank in Manhattan, and on Nov. 22, 2011, he robbed Dara’s Fast Lane in Manhattan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on first count, a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the second count and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the third count. The Riley County Police Department and the FBI investigated. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Warner and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag are prosecuting.

Jerry L. McAfee, Jr., 48, Garnett, Kan., is charged with one count of counterfeiting $100 and $20 bills. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 29, 2011, in Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

Henry Abel Martinez, 30, is charged with unlawfully transporting illegal aliens from Mexico and El Salvador. The crime is alleged to have occurred Nov. 22, 2011, in Gray County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas Highway Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Phillip C. Moore, 30, Galesville, Wis., is charged with 18 counts of making false claims for unemployment benefits from the United States Railroad Retirement Board. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2009 and 2010 in Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

Jase Lee Fewins, 21, Kincaid, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of firearms after a felony conviction and one count of possession of 19 stolen firearms. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Nov. 7, 2011, in Allen County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. The U.S. Attorney’s office is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

 

 

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