MIAMI – In a major crackdown on firearms trafficking, 13 defendants have been charged with federal firearms trafficking related offenses in the Southern District of Florida, with over 140 guns seized, reports Grimy Times crime desk.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the defendants, including Jamaal Calloway, 41, of Florida City, Florida, have been indicted on various charges, including smuggling of firearms, dealing in firearms without a license, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and making a false statement in a firearms purchase. Calloway, who sold approximately thirty-nine machine gun conversion devices, pleaded guilty on March 22, 2024, and is set to be sentenced on June 7, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck.
“Traffickers who illegally engage in the business of unlicensed firearms dealing contribute to the illicit flow of firearms into the black market,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “All too often these powerful firearms then make their way into the hands of felons, gang members, and other violent offenders. Some of these weapons make their way into countries in our hemisphere, with undesirable consequences in those places as well. Our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify targets who unlawfully traffic in and possess firearms, prosecute the offenders, and reduce gun violence.”
Firearms trafficking is a crime that affects communities in many ways, according to ATF Miami Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson. “The illegal trafficking of weapons out of the United States is a top priority for HSI. These weapons are fueling the violence in our neighboring nations and continues to destabilize parts of the region,” said Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami. “HSI will continue to collaborate with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to target individuals and criminal organizations that are involved in the illicit movement of firearms.”
The arrests and resulting cases are a result of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) strategy, which has proven to be effective at reducing violent crime by engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders working together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in communities and developing comprehensive solutions that reduce crime.
The Southern District of Florida has seen a significant crackdown on firearms trafficking since January 2024, with the indictment of 13 defendants and the seizure of over 140 guns. The cases are a result of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) strategy, which focuses on prevention and intervention efforts through community engagement and problem-solving partnerships, strategic enforcement of the most violent offenders, and locally based re-entry programs to reduce recidivism.
U.S. v. Jamaal Calloway, Case No. 24-CR-20006, is one of the cases charged in the Southern District of Florida since January 2024. Calloway, 41, of Florida City, Florida, was charged in a seven-count indictment for dealing in firearms without a license, unlawful transfer, and possession of machine guns, and being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with law enforcement partners to identify targets who unlawfully traffic in and possess firearms, prosecute the offenders, and reduce gun violence. The arrests and resulting cases are a significant step towards reducing firearms trafficking in the Southern District of Florida and beyond.
For more information on the cases, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. This story was brought to you by the crime desk at Grimy Times, a leading source of federal crime news.
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