1 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: By Billy Cunningham, the Great American. Coming up later, we'll 2 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:12,719 Speaker 1: be at Gaul Ryan, who's running against Tom Massey. Also 3 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: coming up later will be a news conference involving the 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: new head basketball coach at UC, Bob Huggins will make 5 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: an appearents back on campus. I'm going to start an 6 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: effort to get a statue of Bob Huggins out in 7 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 1: front of the fifth third arena. But until then, Dominic 8 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: Jerrasis with us in the studio. Quite unusual. And Dominic 9 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: Jerras is the US attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. 10 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: Controls about five million people in southern Ohio. If you 11 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: were a south of Columbus or in Columbus, this guy 12 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: controls the federal law. He had a news conference the 13 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: other day to talk about reaction to all the crime 14 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: happening in Cincinnati. And Dominic Jerras, welcome, I think for 15 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: the first time to the Bill Cunningham Show. Dominic, how 16 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: are you. 17 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 2: I'm doing great, Bill, Thanks for having me. 18 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: A couple issues, a percolating one. You had a big 19 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: Powell the other day, you had David Yos was there 20 00:00:54,720 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 1: the Ohio Ag. You had Charmaine mcguffee, the sheriff, the 21 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: Chief of Police of Cincinnati, Adam Henny, was there. You 22 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: had at f FBI, the CIA, that everybody was there, 23 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: and what was the purpose? What was your goal had 24 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: that news conference? 25 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 3: Well, the goal, Bill was to make sure that we're 26 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 3: getting the word out that the federal government is very 27 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 3: concerned about street level crime in Cincinnati. In particular, when 28 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 3: I first became the US attorney back in August. You know, 29 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 3: we had the brawl in July and Cincinnati, we had 30 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 3: some high profile shootings going on in Fountain Square, and 31 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 3: so it became very apparent that we needed to make 32 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 3: sure that we were taking a lead role and providing 33 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 3: some leadership in terms of fighting violent crime and gun 34 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 3: violence in Cincinnati. So people don't know what we're doing 35 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 3: unless we do a news conference and we let people 36 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,839 Speaker 3: know what we're doing. We had planned we had indicted 37 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 3: a couple of weeks ago about nine individuals for gun crimes, 38 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 3: but we had before that had also announced indictments for 39 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 3: two individuals responsible for shootings at the Riverfront Live venue 40 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 3: down off Kellogg Avenue in Cincinnati, and also the guy 41 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 3: who was responsible for shooting allegedly I'll say allegedly because 42 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 3: I have to. 43 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 2: It's on tape. It is indeed in a Fountain Square. 44 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 3: So we want to make sure the public knows that 45 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 3: the federal government is going to step in and prosecute 46 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 3: gun cases. We're going to work with our local state 47 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 3: and our federal partners to do that and make sure 48 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 3: that we're holding violent gun offenders accountable. 49 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: I may be I may have said things inappropriate at 50 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: the time, but I'll say them to you because you're 51 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: here for any Cobb was twenty four years old, had 52 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: a lengthy previous criminal record, and he shot somebody at 53 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: Riverfront Live. Don't know if it was one, two, three, four, five, six, 54 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 1: seven eight. He was shooting at Derek Long, claiming self defense. 55 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 1: And there was a judge in Hamilton County that gave 56 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: a red deminimus bond to mister Cobb so he could 57 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: get out. In fact, he ordered an ankle monitor. And 58 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,239 Speaker 1: this was somebody with an extensive previous criminal record carrying 59 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: a gun into a venue in which he shot maybe 60 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: anywhere between two and nine people the fact. And I 61 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: said at the time, there's a new sheriff in town, 62 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: that we have a prosecutor, a local US attorney that 63 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: will look at these cases and say you're not getting 64 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 1: out on some ankle monitor Was that a precipitating or 65 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: was it one causing the other? When you heard what 66 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: the bond was on, Friendy Cobb, do you say enough's enough? 67 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 2: No? 68 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 3: I actually, you know one of the mantras that I've 69 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 3: been repeating in my office since I became the US 70 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 3: attorneys We care about local crime, and I want my 71 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 3: ausas to be paying attention to all shootings. So when 72 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 3: we wake up in the morning on that Sunday morning 73 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 3: of the Riverfront live shooting and we see there's a shooting, 74 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 3: a mass shooting, we're making sure that we're talking to 75 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 3: our partners at ATF at FBI to ensure that we 76 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 3: can be responsive if we can step in and help out. 77 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 3: And what that means is when we have an offender 78 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 3: who has a previous record for violent crimes, for gun crimes, federally, 79 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 3: we can step in and charge people who possess firearms, 80 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 3: who possess ammunition because it's a legal under federal law 81 00:03:55,920 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 3: to do that. So we're automatically looking at shootings in 82 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 3: my office. We're coordinating with our local and state partners. 83 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 3: Were coordinating with the Hamlin County Prosecutor's office to make 84 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 3: sure that when we can take a case and we 85 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 3: can get good sentences and harsh penalties for these folks, 86 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 3: we're getting them. 87 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: Some of the critics have said the local prosecutors, Countie 88 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: pill H and or the judges are not doing their job. 89 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 1: The critics have said, you got to step in to 90 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: look over the shoulder and say I'm going to do 91 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: your job if you don't. Is that a fair criticism. Look, 92 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: I'm not going to tell anybody how to do their job. 93 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 3: I will say that we do see on some of 94 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 3: these shooting cases that folks that are out back on 95 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 3: the street with guns in committing these crimes, and oftentimes 96 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 3: they're on probation, they're on community control. They've been you know, 97 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 3: handled in certain court systems with maybe a little bit too. 98 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: Much kid gloves, so to speak. 99 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 3: I will say in terms of the Hamley County Prosecutor's Office, 100 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 3: they've been partners with us on this front. We immediately 101 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 3: when I came in, I've met with Countie Pillach, We've 102 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 3: talked with their folks. 103 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 2: We had a meeting in our office to talk about 104 00:04:59,080 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 2: gun crimes. 105 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 3: We could closely coordinate to make sure again that folks 106 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 3: that we can prosecute federally we're taking So we're coordinating 107 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 3: with them all the time. 108 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 2: On the steps of the relationship with Connie Pillage, the 109 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: relationship is great. 110 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 3: It's great between Connie and I and and more importantly, frankly, 111 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 3: it's great between our staffs. We have, you know, folks 112 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 3: like Christy here, your top assistant, Christy Yep, Christy Munsey 113 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 3: is here with me in the studio. She's our executive 114 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 3: assistant US attorney. She's a long time federal prosecutor. She's 115 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 3: a lifer, she's a tough prosecutor. She takes some of 116 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 3: our toughest cases. In fact, she's prosecuting the lead prosecutor 117 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 3: on the the the four case, which is the individual 118 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 3: who allegedly went up to Vice President of ad Vance's 119 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 3: house with a hammer and broke some windows. So our staff, 120 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 3: the important thing is the people who are doing the 121 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 3: work are coordinating. So between our office and Connie Pillach's office, 122 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 3: those folks know each other. They're in coordination, and and 123 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 3: that's really what matters here. I mean, at the end 124 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 3: of the day, it's relationships. It's relationship between us and 125 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 3: Connie Pilch's office. It's relationships between the law enforcement agencies that. 126 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 2: We work with in our office. 127 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 3: So I can pick up a phone on a Sunday 128 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 3: morning when in Riverfront live shooting occurs, I can speak 129 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 3: to the ATF Special Agent in charge. I can speak 130 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 3: to the FBI Special Legion in charge. That was why 131 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 3: we were able to get charges as quickly as we did, 132 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 3: and we had federal charges on those guys in two days. 133 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 3: Because we have great relationships. Everybody knows what to do 134 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 3: and we're all on the same page. 135 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: At last July, there was a beatdown on Sixth Street. 136 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: I've had Holly on more than once. There was some 137 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: news conference held by city council members and so called 138 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: civil rights leaders about a week's or two later, saying 139 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 1: they demanded that the white guy be charged. There were 140 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: some critics who said that was a racially motivated comment 141 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:49,160 Speaker 1: by public officials, urging that their own city prosecutor's office 142 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: these were missing file charges against someone based upon the 143 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: color of their skin. 144 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 2: Are you looking at that? You know? Look. 145 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 3: One of the things about that brawls that that happened 146 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 3: right after or right before I came into the office, 147 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 3: and you know, one of the good things that happened 148 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 3: at that time was that was a precipitating event where 149 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 3: I was able to immediately meet with state local leaders. 150 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 3: Senator Moreno actually had a roundtable discussion based off of 151 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 3: that event, and that really set the table for our 152 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 3: office to step in and make sure that we're talking 153 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 3: to individuals and addressing violent crime. You know, we ended 154 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 3: up charging a couple of the individuals actually that were 155 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 3: involved in the in the brawl, one of one of 156 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 3: whom we charged with being a fello in possession of 157 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 3: a firearm. I believe in the other with a drug event. 158 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 3: So we immediately evaluated that situation and took took the 159 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 3: action that we thought we could take. 160 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: As far as Shaquille Ferson, he was the guy in 161 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,119 Speaker 1: front of the City Bird illegally he was out on bond, 162 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: having shot somebody on north Side. I can't conceive in 163 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: the good old day somebody using a gun illegally in 164 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: possession to shoot somebody on north Side. 165 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 2: He's out on bond. 166 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 1: While out on bond, he's on a city sidewalk in 167 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,239 Speaker 1: front of Jeff Ruby's steakhouse, shoots back into the City 168 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: Bird well, there's two other people. Now he claims it 169 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: was self defense outside, I would assume the immediacy of 170 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: that issue had been stopped at that But nonetheless, the 171 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: local prosecutors dropped charges against Sequill Ferguson. 172 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 2: Did that concern you? 173 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 3: You know, we looked at that incident, and one of 174 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 3: the great things about the federal charges that we have 175 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 3: is we don't generally. 176 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 2: Have to worry about self defense. 177 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 3: Right, so, it is illegal to possess a fire arm 178 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 3: or ammunition, period, it doesn't matter why you have it. 179 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 3: There's a very limited justification defense, but it's very limited 180 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 3: in terms of, like you know, there has to be 181 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 3: an emascy associated with it to be able to prove 182 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 3: that offense. So we don't have to worry about those things. 183 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 3: And that's the great thing. That's why we we add 184 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 3: value here because we don't have to worry about self defense. 185 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 3: None of those arguments make a bit of difference in 186 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 3: terms of our federal charges on that guy. 187 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: One of your other duties is to prosecute federal crimes 188 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 1: committed taking public money. Article and inquired today involved a 189 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: serious money over payment to a group of individuals a 190 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: part of medicaid in Minnesota. This has become an art form. 191 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: The number there by pam Bondi is about nine billion 192 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: dollars according to the US Attorney in LA. It's ten 193 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 1: times out in Los Angeles. And I had in the 194 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,959 Speaker 1: other day the state auditor, and I thought did a 195 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:19,599 Speaker 1: pretty good job. He's going to be I think the 196 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 1: Attorney general. But are you looking at cases such as overpayment, 197 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: illegal illegalities, the more Attaineans in Lachlan, the or the 198 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: individual Somali's in and around Columbus. There appears to be 199 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: massive fraud there now. The state auditor is saying, he's 200 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: telling Keith Fabers, telling me he sat in that chair 201 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 1: about a week ago. He said, yes, we're this, We're 202 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: gonna track it down. Is it the relationship here with 203 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: Keith favor of such a character that you what discussion 204 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: with him whether prosecute in Franklin County or in federally, 205 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: which has more serious time. 206 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 2: Is that happening. Absolutely. 207 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 3: I've talked to Keith actually about these types of cases. 208 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 3: I won't go into specific cases, obviously, I don't want 209 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 3: to do that, but we have We've always investigated fraud, 210 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,320 Speaker 3: and we've always worked closely with our state partners on 211 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 3: fraud cases. 212 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:06,719 Speaker 2: So we uh. 213 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 3: You know, I've spoken to Keith and we have a 214 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 3: working group going on between our office and some of 215 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 3: our federal partners in Keith's office. Keith has a pretty 216 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 3: A lot of people don't understand the Auditor's Office actually 217 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 3: has a pretty robust criminal staff and they have special 218 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 3: prosecutors as well. We also work with Attorney General jos Office, 219 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:29,559 Speaker 3: the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. We have prosecutors who specialize 220 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 3: in those types of cases. So we're looking at all 221 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 3: of those things. 222 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 2: Uh. 223 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 3: And you know, fraud has become come come to the 224 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 3: forefront based on the reports that you just mentioned, the 225 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 3: Somali fraud up in UH in Minneapolis in particular, But 226 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 3: we've always been doing those cases and we'll continue to 227 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 3: look at those. 228 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 1: Before I talk about the threats against federal officials. Uh, 229 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 1: you have a situation where I think there is a 230 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: sense that things are out of control, that there's threats 231 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 1: being made constantly about large numbers of people. And JD 232 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: Vance the guy had to be half nuts to take 233 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: a hammer to Jay Evans's home, But nonetheless he can't 234 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 1: give him an excuse because he has metal issues. 235 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 2: He did it? 236 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: Whatever it is, let the system decide. Can you relate 237 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: the amount of threats online from left and right to 238 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:13,839 Speaker 1: hurt federal officials? 239 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it's eye opening the amount of threats 240 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 3: we're seeing these days. I mean, they've always been around 241 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 3: since the Internet was invented, and when I was myself 242 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 3: an assistant United States Attorney back in the day, i 243 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 3: handled those types of cases. But we are getting more 244 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 3: and more threat cases, more referrals from our partners at FBI, 245 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 3: at Homeland security investigations. The rhetoric that is being employed 246 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 3: online is deplorable, frankly, and my office has made it 247 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 3: pretty clear that when we see these types of cases, 248 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 3: we are going to prosecute them. We take them very seriously. 249 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 3: We're going to seek harsh penalties for them because we 250 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 3: think they should be deterred the way you get deterrence 251 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 3: and you get people to stop this sort of behavior 252 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 3: as you go after them and you see harsh penalties. 253 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 3: So unfortunately, we're seeing a lot more are these cases 254 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 3: than ever before, and we're going to take action when 255 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 3: we get referrad. 256 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: Where's the line? Because freedom of speech racist? It's ugly head. 257 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: I got the right to threaten people. I have the 258 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: right to express my political viewpoints. A lot of people 259 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: are saying, you know, Donald Trump, this Donald Trump's that 260 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: they're going to be a big protest this week in 261 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: or next some of the signs are going to be 262 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: discussed and kill Donald Trump, that kind of stuff. Where's 263 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 1: the line between freedom of speech on one hand and 264 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: your involvement as a criminal US attorney? 265 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:30,320 Speaker 2: Where is the line? 266 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 3: Well, we obviously take the First Amendment and freedom of 267 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:38,959 Speaker 3: speech very seriously, and we certainly have analyzed every threat 268 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 3: case that we get to make sure that is what's 269 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:41,959 Speaker 3: called a true threat. 270 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:42,199 Speaker 2: Right. 271 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,319 Speaker 3: So the really the test on whether or not we're 272 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 3: going to prosecute someone for a threat would be is 273 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 3: it a true threat? 274 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,599 Speaker 2: In other words, is it an actual threat? Is it conditional? 275 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 3: There's a bunch of different factors we have to look at, 276 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 3: but is it a true threat with a reasonable person 277 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 3: believe that this person could be placed in fear based 278 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 3: on what was said. So we're looking at those types 279 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 3: of issues when we're evaluating threat cases. We also in 280 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 3: the federal government, we can't just prosecute any threat. We 281 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,599 Speaker 3: have to have an interstate in nexus, right, So it 282 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 3: has to be an interstate communication, so we've. 283 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 2: Got to establish that. Most of the time that's established. 284 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 3: If it's an internet you know, an Internet threat, we've 285 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 3: got that element satisfied. But you know, we respect, you know, obviously, 286 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 3: everybody's writes another First Amendment to say what they want 287 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 3: to say, to say things politically or otherwise. We're not 288 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 3: here to prosecute political speech. But when it comes down 289 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 3: to threatening our law enforcement agents that we work with, 290 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 3: we take that very seriously. And again we just think 291 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:38,439 Speaker 3: it's something that should be deterred, and we're going to 292 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 3: when we can prosecute a threat case within the confines 293 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 3: of the First Amendment, we're going to do it. 294 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: Are you overwhelmed? Don't you have somebody from the Amly 295 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 1: County Prosecutor's office looking at some of these cases. 296 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 2: What's the status of that. I wouldn't say we're overwhelmed. 297 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 3: We are busy, you know, and we are hiring, so 298 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 3: I'll put a plug in for our office. You know, 299 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 3: being an assistant United States Attorney is an amazing job, 300 00:13:58,640 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 3: best job out there. 301 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 2: And think Christie would agree with me. 302 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 3: So, if you are a young lawyer who cares about 303 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 3: the Constitution, cares about freedom and wants to keep our 304 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 3: streets safe. We have job advertisements out there right now 305 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 3: up in our Daton office and our Columbus office as 306 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 3: well for prosecutors, and we may be looking at Cincinnati 307 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 3: again pretty soon. But we're not overwhelmed. I'm extremely proud 308 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 3: of the amount of work that our people are doing 309 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 3: under the you know, under the circumstances we do have. 310 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 3: We do have a lot more stuff coming in that 311 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 3: maybe in the past you wouldn't see, wouldn't see as 312 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 3: many of these threat cases for example. But one of 313 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 3: the things that we talked about at the press conference 314 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 3: on Monday that we're very happy about is that Attorney 315 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 3: General Yost has funded a position in our office. 316 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 2: Now. 317 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 3: This person is an attorney an assistant Attorney General, but 318 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 3: she is cross designated now as a special assistant the 319 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 3: United States Attorney and she is dedicated to prosecuting gun 320 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 3: cases and violent crime cases in Cincinnati. 321 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 2: And so that's a huge help to us. 322 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 3: And I said at the press conference, I expect to 323 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 3: see a steady s of these types of gun cases 324 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:02,239 Speaker 3: to continue. 325 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 2: This a one off deal these nine no, no, no, 326 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 2: not at all. 327 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 3: You might not see a press conference for a while 328 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 3: about these epsicases like we did this time, but this 329 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 3: is not a one off. We we have every intention 330 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 3: to continue to bring nine twenty two G cases, the 331 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 3: felon in possession of firearm cases. You know, we have 332 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 3: other charges frankly that we could bring as well. We 333 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 3: brought illegal machine gun cases that we announced on Monday. 334 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 3: We have a nine to twenty four C which is 335 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 3: carrying a firearm in connection with a violent crime or 336 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 3: a drug trafficking case. That's a five year mandatory minimum 337 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 3: consecutive to the underlying crime. 338 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 2: So we are not done. We won't be done. 339 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 3: I said it on Monday while I'm in the US Attorney. 340 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 3: We're going to be doing these cases. 341 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: Dominic Jerasa and in this war in Iran, we all 342 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: hope it's over with quickly. There's been about a one 343 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: hundred and forty five brave soldiers that have been wounded, 344 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: and the city of Cincinnati this year there's going to 345 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: be about four hundred people are going to be wounded 346 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 1: in the city of Cincinnati this year, three times, which 347 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: happened so far in Iran, and Cincinnati is not proud 348 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: of that fact. Even the mayor has said that this 349 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: cannot stand. So what message would you send to the 350 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: so called criminal element in Cincinnati that the order of 351 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 1: business has changed and you're looking at ten years or 352 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: more assuming you go to these offenses. Because I've said 353 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: many times in Cincinnati the face of crime is largely 354 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: a young black male face. But the great majority of 355 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: young black males have nothing to do with crime. In fact, 356 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: that the victims of crime I care about. Black lives matter, 357 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 1: the victims of these people, no matter what color you are, 358 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: I care about that. So what message would you send 359 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: to the criminal element that there's a new sheriff in town? 360 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 3: The message I send is simple. It's if you carry 361 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 3: or use a firearm illegally in the city of Cincinnati 362 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 3: or anywhere else in our district, you can expect that 363 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 3: the federal government is going to be looking at you. 364 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 3: And when we do get charges on you, we are 365 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 3: going to seek your detention pre trial, and then we 366 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 3: are going to seek the harshest sentence we can ask 367 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 3: for under the law and under the guidelines that we 368 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:04,880 Speaker 3: have to operate within. After getting a conviction, either by 369 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 3: trial or by plea. We are not sitting in an 370 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:12,439 Speaker 3: ivory tower as the federal government as long as I'm 371 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 3: the US attorney. We are looking at street level violence. 372 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 3: We're looking at what's happening in our communities on the streets. 373 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 3: We want to make sure the communities are safe and 374 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 3: people can go out in the streets and enjoy themselves. 375 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:25,640 Speaker 2: We don't have a country, we don't have. 376 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 3: Secure prosperity without security, and a big part of that 377 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 3: is making sure that violent criminals get locked up. 378 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Frenny Cobb and Derek Long and 379 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: Shaguel Ferguson was in a system they thought they could 380 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:42,160 Speaker 1: use guns, commit crime and worry about an ankle monitor. 381 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 2: But that's not the rule anymore, is it. 382 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 3: We're going to do our best to make sure that's 383 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 3: not the rule anymore, will we. Dominic Jerra's good luck 384 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 3: to you and Christy. Nice to meet you, and we'll 385 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:53,200 Speaker 3: see what happens down the road. May God bless you 386 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 3: and God bless America. 387 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 2: Thanks Willy, Let's. 388 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: Continue with more. Bill Cunningham, News Radio seven hundred Wow.