DOJ: PRESS RELEASE: Multiple Men Indicted for Arson and Other Offenses Committed During Unrest in Kenosha; Investigation Into Other Suspects Continues
Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Wisconsin | Tuesday, July 13, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on July 7, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted four men, in two separate cases, for various offenses committed during the unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020.
In the first case, Allen King, David Garner, and Kevin Martinez are charged with conspiring to steal controlled substances and transport stolen goods in interstate commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. King and Garner are also charged with two counts of arson, and conspiring to commit arson, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 844(i) and 844(n). Martinez is additionally charged with illegally possessing ammunition as a felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
The charge against Martinez for illegally possessing ammunition stems from the shooting incident depicted below.
According to a publicly filed complaint, King, Garner, and Martinez traveled together from Minnesota to Kenosha on August 24, 2020. The complaint alleges that while in Kenosha, King and Garner attempted to set fires at a bar. King, Garner, and Martinez also looted and damaged other establishments in Kenosha, including a pharmacy and a gas station. The complaint further alleges that all three men described their illegal activities on social media, with King and Garner attempting to sell the stolen controlled substances over that same platform.
In the second case, Devon Vaughn is charged with arson, in relation to the fire at B&L Office Furniture in Kenosha.
Each of the arson crimes described above carries a mandatory minimum term of five years’ imprisonment.
“These cases are the direct result of the dedicated, skilled, and collaborative efforts of ATF and its federal, state, and law enforcement partners,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “Along with our partners, the Department of Justice is committed to holding individuals who engage in arson and other violent offenses accountable for their actions.”
“I commend all the law enforcement agencies for their tireless efforts and the United States Attorney’s Office for their diligence in charging these crimes that were committed during the civil unrest in Kenosha last August,” remarked ATF Special Agent in Charge Kristen de Tineo of the Chicago Field Division. “ATF, alongside our partners, will continue to investigate those violent acts, and appeal to the public for their assistance, to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
“The Kenosha Police Department is grateful for the support and resources provided by our Federal, State and Local partners,” said Kenosha Police Chief Eric Larsen. “We are committed to continuing our joint investigations into the destruction that occurred in the City of Kenosha last August, until every last person responsible is brought to justice.”
Law enforcement is still investigating various other crimes associated with the unrest in Kenosha. Anyone with information about the individuals depicted in the following photos should contact Kimberly Nerheim, Public Affairs Specialist, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, at (773) 658-6419. There is a potential reward involved.
These cases were investigated by the Milwaukee Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kenosha Police Department, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. They will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Knight and Philip Kovoor.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
