Benton Harbor Man Indicted For Possessing A Firearm As A Felon

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Shamonte Demorquez Buchanan, 25, of Benton Harbor, with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Buchanan had a loaded Glock handgun.  The maximum possible penalty for felon in possession of a firearm is 15 years in prison.

          “Felons illegally possessing firearms pose a great danger to our communities in West Michigan, especially in areas where gun violence is inflicted on community members at the highest rates,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten.  “Our office and our law enforcement partners are vigilant, and we will continue these efforts to ensure that the community can feel safe.”

          “The gun crimes alleged to have been committed by Mr. Buchanan have no place in our community,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “I would like to thank the Benton Harbor Safe Streets Task Force for their outstanding work disrupting violent criminal activities and ensuring a safer Michigan."

          “The MSP is proud to work with our local and federal partners to target the most violent offenders in and around Benton Harbor,” said Michigan State Police Spl/Lt. DuWayne Robinson. “We work diligently to combat violence and these indictments prove we are dedicated to making our streets safer for all Michiganders.” 

         The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Benton Harbor Safe Streets Task Force, which is a joint local and federal investigative team that includes the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Michigan State Police, Benton Charter Township Police Department, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, Pokagon Band Tribal Police Department, and the FBI. 

         This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, and federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement work closely together to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for driving violent crime in our communities in order to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Individuals with information or concerns about violent crime or firearms offenses should contact local law enforcement. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit: https://www.justice.gov/psn.

          A copy of the indictment is attached.  The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Buchanan Indictment

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