DENVER – Three Denver self-admitted gang members were arrested late last night in an operation led by the ATF, U.S. Attorney John Walsh and ATF Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Ken Croke announced. Two of the three men appeared in U.S. District Court in Denver this afternoon, where they were advised of their rights, as well as the charges pending against them. The third will appear tomorrow afternoon. A detention hearing has been scheduled for Friday, January 15, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. All three defendants will remain in custody, held without bond, prior to that hearing.
Arrested were Mychael Eitwan Thomas, age 29, Deondrey Brandon, age 21, and Jasirii Quadami Thomas, age 20, all of Denver. The three face Conspiracy charges. Mychael Thomas also faces five counts of being a felon in possession of firearms, and one count of sale of a stolen firearm. Brandon also faces two counts of sale of a stolen firearm. Finally, Jasirii Thomas also faces one count of sale of a stolen firearm. .
According to the indictment, defendants Brandon and Jasirii Thomas acquired and delivered firearms, including stolen firearms, to Mychael Thomas, who was prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of a prior conviction for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. The defendants, Mychael Thomas, Brandon, and Jasirii Thomas, concealed firearms in containers when transporting them. The defendants would then sell the firearms for cash. Firearms included a Glock 26, a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver, an AR-15, a Jimenez Arms .380 caliber handgun, and a Mac 11, among others. The defendants alleged one was a machine gun.
“Many of the firearm sold by the defendants were stolen during residential burglaries throughout Metro Denver,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “Thanks to the ATF, working closely with state and local partners, we were able to identify the three culprits, which resulted in their indictment and arrest.”
“The 17 firearms recovered in this investigation are 17 fewer guns in the hands of gangs; the three suspects in jail are three less criminals preying on our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Ken Croke. “Disrupting gang activities prevents further crimes and puts all criminals on notice. Their lawless acts do not go undetected or uninvestigated.”
If convicted of Conspiracy, each defendant faces not more than 5 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine. If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, each count carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine. Finally, if convicted of sale of a stolen firearm, each count carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the ATF, Denver Police Department, Aurora Police Department, the Lakewood Police Department, and the Department of Corrections Division of Adult Parole.
The defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth Gibson.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.