Jefferson County Law Enforcement Actions to Combat Gun Crime Lead to Charges Against Seven Men
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Seven defendants charged in separate and unrelated gun and drug cases appeared in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Katrina Berger.
Last month a federal grand jury indicted seven individuals in Jefferson County on firearm charges. These indictments are the result of continued collaborative work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to remove drivers of violence from our communities. The majority of these individuals facing gun charges have at least two prior felony convictions. The total number of prior felony convictions among these individuals is 18. Of the seven, there is one individual who has seven felony convictions.
A second superseding indictment charges Cantrell Dehardric Harris, 33, of Birmingham, with two counts of obstruction of justice, one count of illegally possessing a Glock 10mm pistol and two rounds of Barnaul 7.62 caliber ammunition, one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to this indictment, Harris persuaded an individual to write an affidavit wherein she falsely claimed ownership of the Glock 10mm pistol that Harris was charged with illegally possessing. ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristy M. Peoples and Alan Baty are prosecuting the case.
A three-count indictment charges that on July 7, 2022, Kiavante Montiez Green, 27, of Birmingham, possessed a firearm, that is, a Glock .40 caliber pistol, after having been previously convicted of a felony. The indictment also charged that he possessed with the intent to distribute a controlled substance containing a detectable about of heroin and carried the Glock .40 caliber pistol in connection with a drug trafficking crime. ATF investigated the case, along with the Trussville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John G. Camp is prosecuting the case.
A two-count indictment charges Elijah Javon Rockette, 19, of Birmingham, with illegally possessing a machine gun, that is, a Glock .40 caliber pistol equipped with a “Glock switch” – an after-market device designed to illegally convert a semiautomatic Glock pistol into a fully automatic machine gun. Rockette was also charged with receipt of an unregistered firearm. ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer is prosecuting the case.
A one-count indictment charges that on July 27, 2022, Dantrell Dujuan Purifoy, 29, of Warrior, illegally possessed a Taurus 9mm, after having been previously convicted of a felony. ATF investigated the case, along with the Warrior Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Royster is prosecuting the case.
A one-count indictment charges that on September 19, 2022, Robert Ivan Salgado, 25, an undocumented individual and unlawfully in the United States, illegally possessed 138 rounds of Aguila ammunition. ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples is prosecuting the case.
A one-count indictment charges that on September 10, 2022, Cedric Rozell Thomas, 33, of Birmingham, illegally possessed a High-Point .45 caliber pistol, after having been previously convicted of a felony. ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darius C. Greene is prosecuting the case.
A one-count indictment charges that on October 3, 2020, Will David Parr, 23, of Birmingham, illegally possessed a Taurus .380 caliber pistol, after having been previously convicted of a felony. ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Simpson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.