FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACTAUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885

MARCH 7, 2007

CARJACKING AND GUN CHARGES FILED AGAINST COLLIN HAWKINS

BALTIMORE, Maryland - A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today charging Collin Hawkins, age 23, with carjacking, use of a handgun in a crime of violence and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Hawkins was indicted on December 20, 2006 on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The superseding indictment alleges that Hawkins used a firearm to commit a carjacking on November 22, 2006. Hawkins was arrested on December 9, 2006, and found to be in possession of a 9-millimeter pistol. On December 14, 2006, law enforcement officers recovered a Winchester sawed-off shotgun in Hawkins’ possession.

The maximum penalty for carjacking is 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime is life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for possession of a firearm by a felon is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Hawkins will be transferred to federal custody, and his arraignment has not yet been scheduled.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the investigative work performed in this case by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baltimore City Police Department. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Weinstein, who is prosecuting the case.