4 current, ex-sailors indicted in weapons case

[unhappycamper]

4 current, ex-sailors indicted in weapons case
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Apr 25, 2008 12:16:15 EDT

NORFOLK, Va. — Five men were indicted on federal charges alleging they used ties to the Navy to traffic guns and drugs between Virginia and New York.

Prosecutors said Thursday that a federal grand jury indicted the men Wednesday on 17 counts, including conspiracy to violate federal firearms laws, to use firearms in relation to drug trafficking and to distribute and possess controlled substances.

The men were identified as Pierre Alain Mbekwa Atekwana, 28; Eddie James Bunyton II, 26; Jeffrey Shaun Krauss, 29; and Richardo Veillard, 28; all from Norfolk; and Kelvin DeJuan Brown, 24, from Tennessee. Brown’s hometown was not given.

Each faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors said the men used their military ties to develop straw purchasers and a customer base for the drugs. Bunyton and Veillard are in the Navy, and Atekwana and Brown are former sailors. Krauss is not in the military.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/04/ap_guntrafficking_042508/