Latest news with #Polymer80
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Meriden man sentenced to 20 years in prison for manufacturing, selling firearms
MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A Meriden man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for manufacturing and selling firearms. Jonathan Willette, 34, is facing 20 years in prison, suspended after eight years served, followed by five years of probation. Willette pleaded guilty to one count of sale of a firearm, one count of manufacturing a firearm, one count of possession of an assault weapon, one count of criminal possession of a firearm and violation of probation. Norwalk man busted with 150 grams of suspected cocaine, $20K in cash According to court documents, this comes after officers executed a search and seizure warrant at Willette's home on June 23, 2022. Authorities found several firearms, eight Polymer 80 brand firearms, five fully automatic firearms, and one AK-47 assault-style rifle. Firearm manufacturing equipment was also located, including drill presses, jigs, and 'Glock switches.' Authorities also searched his phone, which revealed that he was manufacturing, modifying, and selling firearms, according to court documents. Willette was not legally allowed to possess firearms because he had previously been convicted of a felony. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘I did not fire the gun': Alleged Maryland high school shooter testifies in murder trial
BALTIMORE — Jaylen Prince testified in his own defense Wednesday in Harford County Circuit Court, saying he did not intentionally shoot and kill fellow Joppatowne High School student Warren Grant. Prince, 16, is charged with first-degree murder in the September shooting death of 15-year-old Grant inside a high school bathroom. Prince testified that the gun went off because Grant 'shook' him. 'I did not kill him,' Prince said. 'I did not fire the gun. It accidentally went off.' Harford County State's Attorney Alison Healey cross-examined Prince, asking him why he had a gun inside the school. Prince testified that he routinely carried the gun because he was scared and because he did not want to leave it at home where his mother or younger siblings could find it. He said carrying the gun was the 'only way' he felt he could protect himself, and that he had lost many friends to gun violence. Healey showed numerous images of Prince holding guns. Investigators found the photos on Prince's cellphone. In one, Prince is pictured inside a relative's home with the Polymer 80 handgun he purchased in August. Healey used the image to contradict Prince's claim that he would only carry a gun when he felt unsafe by emphasizing that he often had a handgun in 'safe' environments. Prince testified that he and Grant began arguing in the bathroom after a misunderstanding about Grant's girlfriend. He said he didn't know Grant was in the bathroom until Grant 'blew smoke' into his face and 'kept getting closer,' trying to fight Prince. 'I told him I would kill him to get him to stop,' Prince testified. 'I didn't mean it.' Prince testified that he became 'frantic' when Grant's friends began to 'surround him.' In a cellphone video of the incident, Prince can be seen with his back to the entrance of the bathroom yelling in Grant's face with one of Grant's friends between him and Grant. Healey asked Prince, if he was scared of Grant, why would he yell in his face? 'That's a scare tactic,' Prince responded. In the video, Prince tells Grant that he would not fight him because his hand is broken — referring to an injury to his right index finger he sustained about a year earlier. Prince testified that as Grant 'kept getting closer,' he drew the gun as another means of scaring him into backing away. The gun, Prince said, was in his right hand. Prince's mother testified Tuesday that Prince's right index finger does not have full mobility since it was broken. Prince's defense attorney, Stacey Pipkin, physically recreated the scene in the bathroom, demonstrating how Grant allegedly shook Prince by his shoulders, prompting the gun to point from Prince's waist area toward Grant's chest before going off. 'I could not believe it happened,' Prince testified. 'I panicked and ran out of the bathroom.' Prince underwent several hours of questioning from both the defense and prosecution after which the defense rested its case. Closing arguments are expected to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, after which jury deliberations will begin. ___________
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced to 7 years for armed carjacking with ghost gun at UNC Charlotte
(QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A man has been sentenced to seven years after using an unregistered 'ghost gun' to carjack a student on the campus of UNC Charlotte, federal officials announced. Mark Jordan Williams, 37, was convicted of using a privately made, untraceable firearm to threaten a student and steal their Jeep Wrangler on March 23, 2023. The incident happened near Van Landingham Road and Martin Village Road. Court records show Williams approached the student, identified as L.C., pointed a handgun at them, demanded they get out of the vehicle, and stole their phone before driving off in the Jeep. Williams was arrested later that evening while still inside the stolen vehicle. A .40 caliber Polymer 80 handgun, often referred to as a 'ghost gun' because it lacks a serial number and is difficult to trace, was found in the Jeep. Authorities later confirmed that Williams, a convicted felon, was not legally allowed to possess a firearm. He pleaded guilty in January to possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. In addition to his sentence, he will also serve three years of supervised release. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case, with the prosecution handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte. The stolen Jeep was safely returned to the student. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Convicted felon sentenced to prison for using ghost gun in UNC Charlotte carjacking
A convicted felon, who made a ghost gun used it to carjack someone at UNC Charlotte, was sentenced on Tuesday to seven years in prison, said Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. PAST COVERAGE: Student carjacked at gunpoint at UNC Charlotte, man arrested, car returned officials say Mark Jordan Williams, 37, approached someone in a Jeep Wrangler on March 23, 2023, on the UNC Charlotte campus and forced them out at gunpoint. Williams took the victim's phone and stole the Jeep. He was arrested later that evening while inside the Jeep. He had a .40 caliber Polymer 80 ghost gun inside the Jeep, as well. Williams was not supposed to have a gun because of his criminal history. Ghost guns, which are privately made and unregistered, are illegal. On Jan. 9, Williams pleaded guilty to possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He is in federal custody and will have three years of supervised release after he gets out of prison. VIDEO: Police on the hunt for man who carjacked victim at gas pump in Huntersville
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Charlotte man sentenced to 10 years for threatening postal workers
A 39-year-old Charlotte man was sentenced to prison after assaulting two U.S. Postal Service mail carriers in 2023 because he thought a worker stole an item from his package, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. PAST COVERAGE: Charlotte man accused of attacking postal workers On June 1, 2023, Dujuan Marquise McNeil used his vehicle to block a mail truck and use his guns to threaten a postal worker was inside, prosecutors said. On that same day, McNeil went to a local post office to complain about the alleged theft and clerks there said he would kill the carrier responsible for it. Detectives learned McNeil had multiple prior criminal convictions, including possession of a firearm by a felon, discharge of a weapon into occupied property, and domestic violence protective order violation, and was prohibited from possessing firearms. On June 14, 2023, federal agents seized multiple firearms from McNeil's home while executing a search warrant. They found: Three 9mm semi-automatic pistols, one with an extended magazine A Polymer 80 9mm semi-automatic pistol (ghost gun) with an extended magazine An AR-15 semi-automatic rifle Ammunition magazines and nearly 300 rounds. On Oct. 30, 2024, McNeil pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 'My office will continue to aggressively prosecute those that threaten or harm our postal workers,' said Ferguson in a news release. 'Postal workers are hard-working Americans that are vital to our way of life and essential to our system of commerce.' On Tuesday, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. VIDEO: Charlotte postal workers robbed in crime spree that started in Greensboro, police say
