October 16, 2014

Solano County Violent Gang Safe Streets Task Force Efforts Result in Four Federal Indictments for Firearms Charges

SACRAMENTO, CA—Michael Ladd, 36, of Antioch; Chris Garcia, 39, of Vacaville; Lloyd Bradley, 34; Antonio Bankhead, 26, both of Vallejo, were each charged individually in separate indictments with being felons in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

Ladd was arrested when Vallejo police officers responded to a call regarding a street fight where one of the participants was said to be armed with a gun. The others came to the attention of officers while the officers were on patrol. Each defendant was found to be in possession of a firearm after having been convicted of one or more felonies.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 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.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Solano County Violent Gang Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, Vallejo Police Department, and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Olusere Olowoyeye is prosecuting the cases.

The Solano County Violent Gang Safe Streets Task Force is part of the FBI-sponsored Safe Streets Initiative that combines the efforts of federal, state, and local agencies in an effort to stop violent felons from operating a criminal empire or continuing to conduct criminal activity.