GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — In a bold move against summer gun violence, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced the Safe Summer 2024 initiative. The program zeroes in on federal firearms offenders with a focus on those wielding crime guns.
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This morning, Totten and his law enforcement partners gathered at multiple press conferences to unveil the ambitious plan, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, targeting individuals driving gun violence in their communities.
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“Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for youth in America, and it’s tearing apart communities across Michigan,” Totten declared. “Safe Summer 2024 is a part of the solution, aimed at deterring and holding accountable those responsible.”
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The program targets two specific criteria: federal firearms offenses, such as being a felon in possession or possessing a machine gun; and cases involving crime guns, those previously used in criminal activities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will be on the lookout for these elements to ensure that justice is served.
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One example of the program’s impact came from last summer. Anthony Clarence Pratt, aged 24, from Kalamazoo, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and with possessing a machine gun. During an attempted arrest for several outstanding warrants on August 10, 2023, Pratt fled but was swiftly apprehended by law enforcement. A loaded Glock pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion device and an extended magazine with 17 rounds were recovered. The weapon was later confirmed as a crime gun used in previous crimes.
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On April 30, 2024, a federal judge sentenced Pratt to seven years in prison for his offenses. ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir emphasized the importance of aggressive prosecution: “ATF is committed to pursuing violent criminals involved in gun crimes and gang violence.”
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Safe Summer 2024 aims to make every neighborhood safer by focusing on the individuals at the heart of gun violence. Totten concluded, “Safety is a civil right. My team and our partners will not rest until every person, in every neighborhood, in every community, is safe from violence.”
Related Federal Cases
- Kalamazoo Felon William Henderson Jr. Gets 13 Years For Gun, Drug Trafficking · Michigan
- Toledo Felon Gets Nine-Year Sentence for Gun Possession · Michigan
- Battle Creek Felon Javon Jones Gets 10 Years for Gun & Chase · Michigan
- Grand Rapids Felon Antwine Chamberlain-Fields Held Without Bond for Gun Possession · Michigan
- William Richardson: Pill Kingpin and Gun Runner · Michigan
Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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