Project Safe Neighborhoods News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence. At the core of PSN is setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place. U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announces the following actions in federal PSN cases.

Indictments

Charles Jerome Moore, 40, of Madera, was indicted on April 13, 2023, and charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. According to court documents, on Dec. 14, 2022, law enforcement officers arrested Moore after finding a loaded firearm and ammunition in Moore’s vehicle. Moore was arrested again on March 13, 2023, when officers located ammunition in his vehicle. Moore is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he has prior felony convictions. This case was the product of an investigation by the Madera Police Department and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case.

Evan Moore, 39, of Chowchilla, was indicted on April 13, 2023, and charged being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Dec. 18, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop and found Moore to be in possession of a loaded firearm. This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI and the Madera Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case.

Aaron Michael Correia, 37, of Manteca, was indicted on March 30, 2023, and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, during a traffic stop, Correia was found to be in possession of a loaded .22 Ruger revolver and a box of .22 caliber ammunition. Correia is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has multiple state felony convictions, including 2017 and 2021 convictions for felon in possession of a firearm in San Joaquin County. This case is the product of an investigation by the Manteca Police Department, the Stockton Police Department, and the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Haddy Abouzeid is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Correia, Charles Jerome Moore, and Evan Moore face a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Guilty Pleas

Earnest Donte Ruff, 24, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony crime. According to court documents, on April 21, 2021, law enforcement officers responded to a barbershop in Fresno and observed Ruff wearing a camouflage, cross-body satchel as he entered the rear-passenger seat of a car. Ruff was arrested and found to be in possession of a loaded .40‑caliber gun with no serial number. Ruff has four convictions for illegally possessing firearms or ammunition. Sentencing in this case is set for July 24, 2023. Ruff faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.

Sentencings

Darien Williams, 24, of Fresno, was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Aug. 26, 2021, in Fresno, law enforcement officers tried to stop a car in which Williams was a passenger. The driver failed to yield, sped away, and crashed into another car. After the crash, Williams fled on foot. While fleeing, he discarded a loaded handgun that officers found after they caught and arrested Williams. Williams is prohibited from possessing firearms because of his prior felony record. This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.

These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.