DALTON MAN CONVICTED BY JURY ON DRUG AND GUN CHARGES



ATLANTA - David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia; Gregory Jones, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta Field Office; Vanessa McLemore, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Kenneth Smith, Special Agent in Charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security announce that Mauricio Hernandez, a/k/a "Casper," 23, of Dalton, Georgia, was convicted by a federal jury in Rome today on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, sale of a machine gun, and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. According to Nahmias and evidence at trial:
On April 8, 2005, Hernandez sold a quantity of methamphetamine and a fully automatic AK-style machine gun to a buyer at Hernandez's home in Dalton, Georgia. Hernandez asked for $240 for the drugs, and $750 for the machine gun, but was paid a total of $940 for both. According to the evidence, the buyer was wearing a recording device during the gun transaction. A federal grand jury indicted Hernandez on the charges on Aug. 24, 2005, and he was arrested at his home, and not granted bond. Trial began Monday before United States District Court Judge Harold L. Murphy. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before rendering its verdict early this afternoon.

Sentencing for Hernandez has been set for Friday, Dec. 16, 2005 before Judge Murphy.

This case was investigated by the FBI, ATF and ICE. The FBI, ATF, ICE and the United States Attorney's Office would like to acknowledge and thank the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office for their invaluable help in this case.

For further information and details, please contact David E. Nahmias (pronounced NAH-me-us) United States Attorney, or F. Gentry Shelnutt, Criminal Chief, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.

http://www.ice.gov/graphics/news/newsre ... tlanta.htm