Two Evansville men are facing federal charges for allegedly possessing firearms in a bid to retaliate for a shooting.
Austin Pam, 20, and Dugniqio Forest, 20, were both charged by a federal grand jury in Evansville this week.
According to the indictment, on January 18, 2015, Pam and Forest were passengers in a vehicle that was stopped by the Evansville Police Department.
As EPD officers approached the vehicle, they observed a loaded semiautomatic SKS assault rifle in Pam’s lap and a Tec 9, 9 mm semi-automatic weapon on the floor of the vehicle where Forest was seated.
Law enforcement later learned that the pair had been at the C.K.Newsome Center, downtown Evansville earlier that day, when a fight broke out and shots were fired.
Pam and Forest allegedly armed themselves with the assault rifle and Tec 9 weapon to retaliate against rival gang members for the shooting.
Pam has prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and resisting law enforcement. Forest has prior felony convictions for receiving stolen property and possession of cocaine.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Evansville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Brookman, who is prosecuting this case for the government, said both defendants face up to ten years in prison if convicted.
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