A grand jury in Charlotte has indicted 65 individuals on firearms and violent crime charges, as part of the U.S. Attorney's Office Summer Anti-Violence Initiative. Among those indicted is Joshua Herman Phillips, a 39-year-old Claremont resident, who faces charges including gun trafficking, possession of a machinegun, and dealing firearms without a license, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of North Carolina in a recent press release.
According to the indictment, Phillips is alleged to have trafficked 23 firearms, including handguns and AR type rifles during July and August 2024. One of the firearms is a Privately Made Firearm, an AR Style Rifle chambered in 7.62 x 39, classified as a machinegun. These charges come under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a measure enacted to specifically address illegal firearms transactions.
Others charged in this crackdown on violence include Jodeic Savage from Pembroke, facing carjacking and firearms offenses; Rodney Regan Dunham of Rock Hill, with charges connected to drug trafficking and unlawful firearm possession; and Ismael Jarquin Cortes of Charlotte, arrested for being an undocumented immigrant in possession of a firearm and for reentering the country illegally.
"Our priority is to reduce violent crime, remove illegal firearms from our streets, and keep the people of the Western District of North Carolina safe," announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina. The initiative also featured increased community engagement, such as an event with the Asheville Police Department at a youth development program, and a forum where King, law enforcement, and community leaders discussed joined efforts to combat violence.
Efforts have extended beyond prosecutions to include community partnerships and prevention strategies, including the Think Again campaign which utilizes social media and billboards to educate the public about illegal firearms purchasing and reporting criminal activity.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has engaged in outreach with youth in Western District and the Qualla Boundary, which included facilitating discussions about violence and its impacts. The office also acknowledged the participation of Charlotte and Asheville winners in the "Do the Write Thing" essay contest National Recognition Week in Washington, D.C., showcasing their commitment to empower students in addressing violence in their communities.
To learn more about the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and their community safety programs, the public is directed to visit their website. The release mentions that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
