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7 January 2010
http://washingtondc.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/wfo010710.htm
For Immediate Release
January 7, 2010 U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 514-2007/TDD (202) 514-1888
Two Individuals Charged with Murder and Other Offenses Related to Shooting Death of Two Afghan Nationals in Kabul, Afghanistan
Third Afghan National Wounded in Shooting That Led to Charges
WASHINGTON—Justin Cannon, 27, of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Christopher Drotleff, 29, of Virginia Beach, Va., have been charged with crimes including second-degree murder, attempted murder, and firearms offenses while working as contractors for the U.S. Department of Defense in Afghanistan, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride of the Eastern District of Virginia, and John Perren, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office announced today. Cannon and Drotleff were charged under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA).
The 13-count indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia on Jan. 6, 2010, and unsealed today, alleges that on May 5, 2009, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Cannon and Drotleff shot and killed two Afghanistan nationals and wounded a third. The indictment alleges that at the time of the shootings, Cannon and Drotleff were Department of Defense contractors employed by Paravant LLC, which is a subsidiary of Xe (formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide). According to the indictment, as contractors, Cannon and Drotleff provided training to the Afghan National Army for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the use and maintenance of weapons and weapons systems.
Cannon was arrested today in Corpus Christi by FBI agents. Drotleff was also arrested today by FBI agents in Virginia Beach. Cannon and Drotleff were each charged with two counts of second-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, six counts of using and discharging a firearm during a violent crime, and four counts of murder resulting from the use of a firearm during a violent crime. If convicted, the maximum penalty faced by Cannon and Drotleff is life in prison or the death penalty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy C. Stoker and Alan M. Salsbury from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia - Norfolk Division as well as Trial Attorney Robert McGovern of the Criminal Division’s Domestic Security Section. The case is being investigated by the FBI.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.
| DEATHP |
U.S. District Court
Eastern District of Virginia - (Norfolk)
CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 2:10-cr-00001-RGD-FBS All Defendants
Case title: USA v. Cannon et al |
Date Filed: 01/06/2010 |
| Assigned to: District Judge Robert G. Doumar Referred to: Magistrate Judge F. Bradford Stillman |
||
Defendant (1) |
||
| Justin H. Cannon | ||
Pending Counts |
Disposition |
|
| 18:1111, 2, and 3261(a)(1) - 2nd Degree Murder (1-2) |
||
| 18:1113, 2, and 3261(a)(1) - Attempted Murder (3) |
||
| 18:924(c)(1)(A) and 3261(a)(1) - Use and Discharge of a Firearm
During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (4) |
||
| 18:924(c)(1)(A) and 3261(a)(1) - Use and Discharge of a Firearm
During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (6) |
||
| 18:924(c)(1)(A) and 3261(a)(1) - Use and Discharge of a Firearm
During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (8) |
||
| 18:924(j), 2 and 3261(a)(1) - Murder Resulting from the Use
and Discharge of a Firearm During in Relation to a Crime of Violence (10) |
||
| 18:924(j), 2 and 3261(a)(1) - Murder Resulting from the Use
and Discharge of a Firearm During in Relation to a Crime of Violence (12) |
||
Highest Offense Level (Opening) |
||
| Felony | ||
Terminated Counts |
Disposition |
|
| None | ||
Highest Offense Level (Terminated) |
||
| None | ||
Complaints |
Disposition |
|
| None |
| Assigned to: District Judge Robert G. Doumar Referred to: Magistrate Judge F. Bradford Stillman |
||
Defendant (2) |
||
| Christopher A. Drotleff | ||
Pending Counts |
Disposition |
|
| 18:1111, 2, and 3261(a)(1) - 2nd Degree Murder (1-2) |
||
| 18:1113, 2, and 3261(a)(1) - Attempted Murder (3) |
||
| 18:924(c)(1)(A) and 3261(a)(1) - Use and Discharge of a Firearm
During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (5) |
||
| 18:924(c)(1)(A) and 3261(a)(1) - Use and Discharge of a Firearm
During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (7) |
||
| 18:924(c)(1)(A) and 3261(a)(1) - Use and Discharge of a Firearm
During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (9) |
||
| 18:924(j), 2 and 3261(a)(1) - Murder Resulting from the Use
and Discharge of a Firearm During in Relation to a Crime of Violence (11) |
||
| 18:924(j), 2 and 3261(a)(1) - Murder Resulting from the Use
and Discharge of a Firearm During in Relation to a Crime of Violence (13) |
||
Highest Offense Level (Opening) |
||
| Felony | ||
Terminated Counts |
Disposition |
|
| None | ||
Highest Offense Level (Terminated) |
||
| None | ||
Complaints |
Disposition |
|
| None |
Plaintiff |
||
| USA | represented by | Randy Carl Stoker United States Attorney Office 101 W Main St Suite 8000 Norfolk , VA 23510 (757) 441-6331 Fax: 757-441-6689 Email: randy.stoker@usdoj.gov LEAD ATTORNEY ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED |
| Date Filed | # | Docket Text |
|---|---|---|
| 01/06/2010 | 1 | |
| 01/06/2010 | 2 | |
| 01/06/2010 | 3-1 | |
| 01/07/2010 | 4 | |
| 01/07/2010 | 5 | ORDER granting 4 Motion to Amend Sealing Order as to Justin H. Cannon (1), Christopher A. Drotleff (2). Signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Bradberry on 1/7/10 and filed 1/7/10. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/07/2010) |
| 01/07/2010 | 6-2 | |
| 01/07/2010 | Case unsealed as to Justin H. Cannon, Christopher A. Drotleff. (ecav, ) (Entered: 01/07/2010) | |
| 01/07/2010 | Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings as to Christopher A. Drotleff: Initial Appearance set for 1/7/2010 04:30 PM in Norfolk Mag Courtroom 2 before Magistrate Judge F. Bradford Stillman. (they, ) (Entered: 01/07/2010) | |
| 01/07/2010 | 7 | MOTION for ROBERT PATRICK MCGOVERN to appear Pro hac vice. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/07/2010) |
| 01/07/2010 | Arrest of Christopher A. Drotleff (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/07/2010) | |
| 01/07/2010 | Arrest of Justin H. Cannon in Southern District of Texas. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/07/2010) | |
| 01/07/2010 | 8 | Arrest Warrant Returned Executed on 1/7/10 in case as to Christopher A. Drotleff. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/07/2010) |
| 01/07/2010 | Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings as to Christopher A. Drotleff: Detention Hearing set for 1/12/2010 02:30 PM in Norfolk Mag Courtroom 2 before Magistrate Judge Tommy E. Miller. (they, ) (Entered: 01/07/2010) | |
| 01/07/2010 | Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge F. Bradford Stillman: Initial Appearance as to Christopher A. Drotleff held on 1/7/2010. AUSA Randy Stoker and AUSA Robert McGovern appeared. Deft. present in custody and advised of rights, charges, and right to counsel. Counsel desired - Court DIRECTS appointment of counsel. TEMPORARY DETENTION. Detention hearing set for 1/12/10 at 2:30 p.m. before Judge Tommy E. Miller. Deft. remanded. (Court Reporter FTR.) TEXT ONLY ENTRY - NO PDF ATTACHED. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/07/2010) | |
| 01/07/2010 | 10 | [SEALED] CJA 23 Financial Affidavit by Christopher A. Drotleff filed in open court. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/07/2010) |
| 01/07/2010 | 11 | ORDER OF TEMPORARY DETENTION as to Christopher A. Drotleff filed in open court. Signed by Magistrate Judge F. Bradford Stillman on 1/7/10. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/07/2010) |