Indianapolis Woman Sentenced on Gun and Drug Violations
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cassandra Russell, 26, of Indianapolis, pleaded guilty March 11, 2008, in Marion Superior Court to dealing in cocaine and three counts of offering false evidence. Russell was sentenced March 18 to 20 years for dealing in cocaine, 10 years will be served in the Department of Corrections and 10 years of the sentence was suspended. Russell was sentenced to four years in the Department of Corrections on each of three counts of offering false evidence, the sentences will run concurrently.
The case began in Chicago when agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were following the trail of a firearm recovered by the Chicago Police Department. The trail led to Russell. ATF investigators determined that Russell had purchased six firearms on separate occasions since 2006. Russell reported four separate thefts of firearms to law enforcement including the firearm that was recovered by Chicago police on Nov.13, 2007. The firearm was in the possession of a convicted felon that was fatally wounded by Chicago Police. Russell pleaded guilty and admitted to providing false evidence to purchase the firearm that was ultimately recovered by Chicago police. "Russell's acknowledgment of providing false information when she purchased these handguns paved the way to filing these charges. I'm committed to continuing the very effective partnership between the Marion County Prosecutor's Office and ATF," said Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi.
"ATF and its Achilles Task Force are committed to investigating and bringing to justice individuals that circumvent firearm laws. We want to send a message that this type of activity will not be tolerated," said Paul Massock, group supervisor, ATF Indianapolis Field Office. This case was investigated by ATF special agents and its Achilles Task Force officers, and prosecuted by Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Claire South. ATF and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department are partners in the task force and seek to reduce violent firearms-related crime. ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in violent crimes involving firearms and regulates the firearms industry. More information on ATF and its programs is available at http://www.atf.gov/ Contact: Special Agent Kim Riddell, ATF PIO
CONTACT: Special Agent Kim Riddell, PIO, +1-330-707-2308, or Claire Web Site: http://www.atf.gov/
2008-03-19 16:45:53 0316735 PRNEWSWIRE
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