Special to The Leader

BEAUMONT — Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston announced , on Wednesday, that 32 individuals have been charged in federal firearms related cases this month in the Eastern District of Texas.

A federal grand jury in Beaumont returned 26 federal indictments on Aug. 9, 2017. Law enforcement agencies began arresting defendants today. The following 16 defendants are in custody and will make initial appearances before federal magistrate judges in Beaumont:

Robert Lee Johnson, 43, of Port Arthur

Desmond Harper, 31, of Beaumont

Carlos Rodriguez-Torres, 35, of Lumberton

Ernest Gatlin, 38, of Beaumont

Harvey Davis, 38, of Bon Weir

David Wells, 38, of Lumberton

Kionte Hawkins, 29, of Beaumont

Damon Hargrave, 37, of Beaumont

Jakorian Sanderson, 20, of Beaumont

LeeJaray Smith, 40, of Beaumont

Joseph Carter, 39, of Beaumont

Dwayne Morgan, 25, of Vidor

Dacqure Holmes, 38, of Port Arthur

Corey Stone, 35, of Beaumont

Arne Koenig, 43, of Buna

Eric Martin, 32, of Port Arthur

The defendants are alleged to have participated in multiple violent crimes in Southeast Texas, including Jefferson, Hardin, Orange, and Jasper counties. Those crimes include bank robbery, firearms violations, drug trafficking violations, money laundering, immigration violations, and conspiracy to commit robberies interfering with interstate commerce. Many defendants are also alleged to have gang affiliations. If convicted, they face penalties of from five years to Life in federal prison.

These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Beaumont Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Port Arthur Police Department, the Orange Police Department, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.