U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney's Office Western District of Tennessee 800 Federal Office Building   Ph:  (901) 544-4231 Memphis, Tennessee 38103 Fax: (901) 544-3054                                           TTY: (901) 544-3054
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LEIGH ANNE JORDON                                  (901) 544-4231

November 28, 2006

 

MCKENZIE MAN SENTENCED OF ATTEMPTING TO
ACQUIRE CHEMICAL WEAPON

Memphis, Tennessee - David Kustoff, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced that Demetrius “Van” Crocker, age 40, was sentenced by District Judge James Todd to 30 years in prison and lifetime supervised release.

Crocker was found guilty by a federal jury in April 2006 of one count of attempted possession of a chemical weapon, one count of inducing another person to acquire a chemical weapon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 229, one count of possession of stolen explosives in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 842(h), one count of possession of explosive material within intent to harm an individual or damage or destroy a building, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(d), and one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d).

This investigation was handled jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Daryl Berry and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Brian Bird. AUSA Fred Godwin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.