Contact: Peggy K. Goodwin, Project Safe Neighborhoods: 313.715.0199

DETROIT – Edward Robinson, Jr., age 49, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gerald E. Rosen, to 15 years in federal prison (there is no parole under the federal judicial system), followed by eight years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and heroin, and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and using it for the purposes of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Murphy announced today.

All of Robinson’s criminal activity took place from his apartment in Brewster Projects, a government-subsidized, public housing development at 2701 Chrysler Service Drive near downtown Detroit. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (ATF) and the Detroit Police Department worked collaboratively on this case as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. The Drug Enforcement Administration also assisted in the case.

Robinson was convicted by a federal jury on January 24, 2006. Two years earlier, on April 22, 2004, ATF agents, working with a Detroit Police Department narcotics team, conducted a four-month investigation and executed a search warrant of the apartment. At that time, a related ATF investigation identified Robinson as an alleged cocaine supplier. When the agents and officers entered Robinson’s apartment, they observed Robinson seated at a table with 132 ziploc bags of crack cocaine and heroin. When the officers ordered Robinson to show his hands, he pulled a 9mm handgun from his waistband and began pointing it at the officers. The officer nearest Robinson fired his shotgun and struck Robinson in the abdomen. A second firearm was also confiscated from Robinson’s apartment. Robinson recovered and went to trial in January 2006.

“Drug traffickers have chosen a life that leads to violence, incarceration and often death. Drugs and guns unfortunately go hand in hand, and I applaud the efforts of the ATF agents who lead this investigation, and our Detroit police officers who helped bring Robinson to justice. We want to give the residents of Brewster Projects a better quality of life away from the threat of drugs and guns,” said U.S. Attorney Murphy.

“Our agents are committed to working in tandem with Detroit police officers and other agencies to protect those we are charged to serve. The enforcement component of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative is targeting the most violent offenders with firearms, and the PSN team is committed to getting these criminals out of our neighborhoods and away from our children,” said ATF Special-Agent-in-Charge, Valerie Goddard.

Project Safe Neighborhoods also includes public awareness and community engagement. To date, the prevention component of Project Safe Neighborhoods has positively impacted 10,000 youth in middle and high schools in and around metro Detroit through an in-school outreach program called “Project Sentry.”

Project Safe Neighborhoods public awareness campaign, “Help Us Help You,” recently won the 2006 national award from the U.S. Department of Justice at the Project Safe Neighborhoods Conference in Denver on May 3, 2006. “This is a crucial component of PSN because we know that enforcement is only one part of the equation. Public awareness and community engagement are key to crime prevention,” said U.S. Attorney Murphy.

New public service announcements (PSAs) featuring Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings, ATF SAC Valerie Goddard and U.S. Attorney Stephen Murphy are airing on UPN, CBS and Comcast; and FOX 2 is airing new Project Safe Neighborhoods public service announcements featuring Ron Savage and Charles Pugh.

All Project Safe Neighborhoods PSAs promote the toll-free tip line managed by the ATF, 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4968). Individuals with knowledge of felons with guns, illegal gun use, sales or trafficking are encouraged to call this tip line, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and remain anonymous, if they so choose.