Charged with attempted murder of a federal employee
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Two Louisville men have been charged in a Superseding Indictment with conspiracy to murder and attempted murder of a federal employee, that is a United States Postal Carrier (while engaged in the performance of his official duties), and with forcible assault of a federal employee. One defendant, Eric Bennett, faces additional charges, including discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and use or possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.
Marcus Bennett, 40, was arrested Wednesday, April 19, 2017, and appeared before Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin, facing four of seven charges in a Superseding Indictment. The Superseding Indictment was unsealed yesterday during his initial appearance in federal court. Marcus Bennett remains in federal custody with a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 3:00 pm.
Eric Bennett, 38, was arrested Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, and was initially charged in a grand jury indictment with attempted murder of a federal employee, forcible assault of a federal employee, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. The superseding indictment includes those charges and adds four new charges. Those charges are: conspiracy to murder and attempted murder of a federal employee; the two firearms charges (possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and use or possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime); and a drug trafficking charge. Eric Bennett remains in federal custody.
The charges are in connection with the shooting of United States Postal Carrier Da’Ron Lester on Feb. 10, 2016.
A third defendant, Juliyah Young, of Louisville, is charged in the Superseding Indictment, along with Marcus and Eric Bennett, with conspiracy to distribute heroin and marijuana. According to the indictment, beginning in June of 2015, and continuing to April 19, 2017, in Jefferson County, the three defendants conspired with each other to possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and marijuana.
If convicted of the charges, Eric Bennett and Marcus Bennett face a sentence of any number of years in prison including life for conspiracy to murder a federal employee, no more than 20 years for each count of attempted murder of a federal employee and forcible assault of a federal employee.
Eric Bennett faces an additional 10 years in prison for the charge of discharging of a firearm during a crime of violence, no more than 10 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and no less than 25 years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Further, Eric and Marcus Bennett could be sentenced to a five-year term of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine.
If convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and marijuana, all three defendants could be sentenced to no less than 10 years in prison and no more than life, fined, and ordered to serve 5 years of supervised release.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Davis and Marisa Ford, and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is conducting the investigation.
The charge of a person by Grand Jury Indictment is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
