CINCINNATI – Fifteen of Cincinnati’s most dangerous criminals – including the man who tried to shoot two Lockland police officers - could be off the streets for even longer as law enforcement takes a harder approach to dealing with gun offenders.
The 15 listed below, already convicted on state charges, have now been indicted on federal gun charges, meaning longer sentences and less chance of getting out early if convicted.
That's perfect with Lockland police officer Travis Moyers.
"I thought I was going to die," Moyers said about the September incident when Keno Phillips tried to shoot Moyers and fellow officer Officer Matt Kurtz.
"That's awesome. That's what guys like this deserve," Moyers said.
And this group of 15 is just the first – more cases are going to a federal grand jury, officials say.
"Their criminal histories, their habitual use of guns when they commit crimes and their violent history is why they were targeted," said Christy Muncy, assistant United States attorney.
And they will sent to faraway federal prisons, said Donald Soranno, ATF special agent in charge.
"They are not going to be going to a local prison here locally. They are going to be sent to Colorado, North Dakota - places far away from their network- so they cannot continue to have an impact on the violence that is happening."
Phillips' mother doesn't defend what he's done, but now she's worried she will never see him again.
"He's been in and out of jail and he always got arrested," Vikki Phillips said.
Phillips, 41 tried to shoot the officers during a traffic stop. He pulled the trigger, but his gun didn’t have a bullet in the chamber and the officers were able to subdue him.
"Oh, Lord, I just said they are never going to let him out. They are never going to let him out and that's how he feels," she said.
That's the message law enforcement officials hope to send to other criminals.
The federal gun charges carry sentences from 5 to 20 years, and convicts are required to serve at least 80 percent of any federal sentence.
The 15 indicted are:
Dennis Hicks, 30, Cincinnati - 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon
Steven Ivery, 30, Cincinnati - 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon
Willie Jackson, 25, Hamilton - 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon
Jarvis Levy, Jr., 35, Cincinnati - 5 counts possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, 2 counts possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, 1 count possession of firearm in furtherance of an offense
Donte Martin, 28, Cincinnati - 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon
Donell McCreagh, 55, Cincinnati - 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon
Nicholas Metz, 34, Cincinnati - 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon
Jeno Moore, 25, Cincinnati -1 count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, 1 count of possession of firearm in furtherance of an offense, 1 count possession of firearm as convicted felon
Alvin Palmer, 25, Cincinnati - 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon
Keno Phillips, 41, Cincinnati - 1 count possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon, 1 count possession of firearm in furtherance of an offense
Brian Simms, 33, Hamilton - 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon
Ronald Steele, 25, Cincinnati - 1 count possession of stolen firearm, 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon
Oscar Torbert, 27, Cincinnati - 1 count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, 1 count of possession of firearm in furtherance of an offense, 1 count possession of firearm as convicted felon
Terrance Williams, 28, Cincinnati - 1 count possession of stolen firearm, 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon
Steven Young, 31, Cincinnati - 1 count possession of firearm as a convicted felon Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
FEDERAL SENTENCES for:
Possession of A Firearm by a Convicted Felon
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)
5-20 years in prison
$250,000 fine
Up to a lifetime of supervised release
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
Up to 10 years in prison
$250,000 fine
Up to 3 years supervised release
Possession with intent to distribute
21 U.S.C 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C)
Up to 20 years in prison
At least 3 years supervised release $1 million fine
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of an offense
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)
At least 5 years consecutive in prison
$250,000 fine 5 years supervised release
Possession of a stolen firearm
18 U.S.C. § 922(j)
Up to 10 years in prison
$250,000 fine
Up to 3 years supervised release
