NORFOLK, Va. - A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm and uttering counterfeit money.
According to information before the court, Amaud Brown, aka “Moe Gunz", 24, is a convicted felon and self-admitted member of the Gangster Disciples who obtained, or tried to obtain, at least seven firearms with the help of several straw-purchasers. Brown actually called one of the licensed gun stores he frequented to inquire about purchasing more guns while police officers were at that gun store investigating his previous straw-purchases.
Police executed a search warrant on Brown’s residence and recovered two loaded handguns, shotgun parts, dozens of rounds of ammunition, marijuana, cut and uncut counterfeit money printed on resume paper, and materials used to manufacture counterfeit money. Investigators later discovered that Brown had used fake $100 bills to rip off at least four victims, including a Navy serviceman, who had exchanged their electronic devices to him in return for what they believed was real cash.
Brown faces a maximum of 30 years in prison when sentenced on October 18. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, Matthew S. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, and Angela Greene, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-85.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
