U.S. Attorney's Office Summer Anti-Violence Initiative Leads To 65 Individuals Indicted For Firearms And Violent Crime Offenses, Including Charlotte Man Charged With Gun[...]

Press Release

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A federal grand jury in Charlotte returned a criminal indictment this week, charging Joshua Herman Phillips, 39, of Claremont, N.C., with gun trafficking, possession of a machinegun, and dealing in firearms without a license, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

According to allegations in the indictment, between July and August 2024, in Catawba County, Phillips engaged in the trafficking of 23 firearms. The firearms included handguns and AR type rifles. The indictment also alleges that Phillips possessed a Privately Made Firearm, AR Style Rifle chambered in 7.62 x 39, which is classified as a machinegun.

This case is prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

This week, the U.S. Attorney's Office also filed charges against 10 defendants for illegal possession of firearms and related offenses. Among those charged are:

U.S. v. Jodeic Savage - Savage, 28, of Pembroke, N.C., is charged with two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

U.S. v. Rodney Regan Dunham - Dunham, 43, of Rock Hill, S.C. is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

U.S. v. Ismael Jarquin Cortes - Cortes, 39, of Charlotte, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien and illegal reentry by an alien.

In June, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced efforts to enhance safety across communities in Western North Carolina, especially during the summer months when violent crime historically increases. As a result of those efforts, over the summer, the U.S. Attorney's Office indicted 65 individuals for illegally buying, selling, or possessing firearms, committing a violent crime, or using a firearm in the commission of the crime.

"Our priority is to reduce violent crime, remove illegal firearms from our streets, and keep the people of the Western District of North Carolina safe," said U.S. Attorney King. "In collaboration with our federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners, we are focusing on investigating and prosecuting individuals that pose a threat to the community, spread violence and drugs in our neighborhoods, traffic or possess illegal firearms, and drive-up violent crime."

In addition to bringing criminal charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office's continues to enhance community safety through community partnerships and crime prevention programs.

"Our crime reduction efforts extend beyond prosecutions," said U.S. Attorney King. "To enhance public safety, we must incorporate prevention programs and intervention strategies, and work closely with community organizations and stakeholders that share our commitment to a safer community."

An important initiative in these efforts, especially during the summer months, was the relaunch of Think Again. Think Again is an informational campaign aimed at deterring illegal firearms activity. For this initiative, the U.S. Attorney's Office partnered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to educate the public on how to prevent illegal firearms from getting into the wrong hands, the legal consequences of illegally purchasing and selling firearms, and the importance of reporting suspected criminal activity. Through social media messaging and billboard advertisements throughout the Western District of North Carolina, Think Again strives to increase public awareness about gun crimes and the dangers of illegal firearms purchasing or misuse.

In collaboration with law enforcement agencies, community organizations, nonprofit entities, and school districts, the U.S. Attorney's Office continues to engage in violence prevention initiatives, particularly with adolescents and emerging adults. Earlier this summer, the U.S. Attorney's Office, in partnership with the Asheville Police Department (APD), hosted an outreach event at My Daddy Taught Me That, a youth development program in Asheville, designed to support young people through advocacy, education, and mentoring. During the event, U.S. Attorney King introduced APD Police Chief Michael Lamb to a group of young males and facilitated a group discussion about APD's community engagement goals under Chief Lamb's leadership.

In August, the U.S. Attorney's Office partnered again with APD to host a community forum with Asheville community leaders where U.S. Attorney King discussed partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime and explore ways law enforcement can partner with community organizations and stakeholders to assist in these joint efforts.

Throughout the summer, the U.S. Attorney's Office and U.S. Attorney King continued collaborating with youth programs and school districts in the Western District and the Qualla Boundary, home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, to hold listening sessions and have impactful conversations with young people on the causes and consequences of violence.

Also, in July, U.S. Attorney's Office personnel joined the Charlotte and Asheville winners of the "Do the Write Thing" (DtWT) essay contest, for the National Recognition Week in Washington, D.C. DtWT is a contest organized by the National Campaign to Stop Violence and seeks to encourage middle school students to express the impact of violence in their lives through writing, and to empower students to become catalysts for positive change by sharing their ideas on ways to reduce youth violence. U.S. Attorney King serves as Chair of the DtWT Committee in Asheville.

For more information about the U.S. Attorney's Office and programs centered on enhancing community safety, please visit our website.

The charges contained in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court of law.

Updated September 20, 2024