Hogsett Announces Indictment from Firearms and Drug Trafficking Investigation
More Results from the United States Attorney’s Initiative to Combat Violent Crime

NEW ALBANY, IN—United States Attorney Joseph H. Hogsett announced today that Eugene Cornell Thomas, 57, Louisville, Ky., was charged this past Wednesday in a six count indictment charging him with four counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of distribution of marijuana, following a covert joint federal-state investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (New Albany), Indiana State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (Louisville).

According to the criminal complaint and indictment, filed in April and May respectively, Thomas, a convicted felon, who was not lawfully permitted to possess firearms, traveled to Southern Indiana from Louisville and subsequently sold an undercover law enforcement agent numerous firearms, including two assault rifles, a .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun, and a Derringer on three separate occasions in Floyd County, Ind. The indictment also alleges that on two occasions, Thomas distributed quantities of marijuana along with the firearms.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry D. Glickman, who is prosecuting the case for the government, Thomas faces a maximum of 50 years in prison and a $1,250,000.00 fine. An initial hearing will be scheduled for Thomas in New Albany before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.