Deputy U.S. Marshal Convicted of Providing a Loaded Firearm to a Convicted Felon and Perjury

TRENTON—A Deputy United States Marshal was convicted today in federal court of one count of providing a firearm and ammunition to someone convicted of, and under indictment for, a felony, and one count of perjury for lying about the matter before a federal grand jury, Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra announced.

Antoine Dobson, 29, of Irvington, a Deputy U.S. Marshal assigned to the Southern District of New York, provided his semi-automatic handgun, fully loaded with hollowpoint bullets, to Larry Langforddavis, 33, of Hillside, who is a previously convicted felon and who, at the time, was under indictment for multiple additional felonies, including gun and drug charges. Dobson purchased the semi-automatic handgun by certifying on United States Marshals Service letterhead that it was to be used for “official use” only and that he would not transfer it to anyone else.

The trial began with testimony on June 29 before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan. The jury returned its verdict following deliberations yesterday and today. Judge Sheridan scheduled sentencing for Nov. 2.

In January of last year, Langforddavis, a close friend of Dobson, was arrested in the parking lot of an Elizabeth adult entertainment club for the possession of Dobson’s handgun after police officers with the Elizabeth Police Department recognized him as an individual who had days earlier misrepresented himself as a law enforcement officer to the police officers by showing them a handgun strapped to his ankle. Langforddavis is charged in a separate indictment with the unlawful possession of the weapon. That indictment alleges Langforddavis is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to his past criminal convictions on charges that include aggravated assault, robbery, and unlawful possession of a handgun. His trial is currently scheduled for Nov. 9.

Dobson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the firearms charge; the maximum statutory penalty for perjury is five years and a $250,000 fine. Under the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which a sentencing judge must consult in determining a sentence, Dobson faces a potential prison sentence of between 27 and 33 months. The Sentencing Guidelines, however, are advisory only, and Judge Sheridan will have discretion in imposing a sentence within or outside of that range.

Marra credited Special Agents of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, N.Y. Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Tomlinson, the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun, in Newark, and the U.S. Marshals Service for the Southern District of N.Y., under the direction of Marshal Joseph R. Guccione, and the U.S. Marshals Service for the District of N.J., under the direction of Marshal James T. Plousis, with investigation of the case.

Marra also credited the Elizabeth and Fanwood Police Departments for their assistance.

The case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas R. Calcagni of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division, and Zahid N. Quraishi of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Government Fraud Unit.

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