MacDill AFB, FL
MacDill AFB, FL
Posted on Dec 22, 2023
Tampa Man Indicted For Attempting To Enter MacDill Air Force Base With AR-15 Rifle And 125 Rounds...
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United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Baruch Roche II (33, Tampa) with one count of attempted possession of a firearm in a federal facility. If convicted, Roche faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Roche that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition that were used to facilitate the offense.
According to the indictment and criminal complaint, on November 3, 2023, Roche attempted to enter MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa in his vehicle. U.S. Air Force security personnel stopped him at the gate and asked for identification. Roche refused to provide it. Roche instead identified himself as “Captain America” and demanded entry, stating that he had a meeting with a General of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to provide top secret information. Roche became argumentative and threatened to come back every day to look for the officers denying him entry. Due to his suspicious behavior, Roche was detained and security personnel searched his vehicle. An AR-15 rifle was located in the trunk, as well as five magazines loaded with 125 rounds of ammunition.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Security Forces, the Tampa Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
According to the indictment and criminal complaint, on November 3, 2023, Roche attempted to enter MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa in his vehicle. U.S. Air Force security personnel stopped him at the gate and asked for identification. Roche refused to provide it. Roche instead identified himself as “Captain America” and demanded entry, stating that he had a meeting with a General of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to provide top secret information. Roche became argumentative and threatened to come back every day to look for the officers denying him entry. Due to his suspicious behavior, Roche was detained and security personnel searched his vehicle. An AR-15 rifle was located in the trunk, as well as five magazines loaded with 125 rounds of ammunition.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Security Forces, the Tampa Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Tampa Man Indicted For Attempting To Enter MacDill Air Force Base With AR-15 Rifle And 125 Rounds...
Posted from justice.gov
MacDill AFB
Firearms and Guns
Crime
DOJ
Tampa
Posted 4 mo ago
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Florida man claims to be 'Captain America' with top secret info to get onto Air Force base, DOJ says
Baruch Roche II, 33, was trying to enter the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa when he allegedly said he was meeting a general to provide top secret information.
Rouche approached the military installation in a Hyundai Genesis just before 2:15 p.m. on Nov. 3, the Justice Department said Tuesday. After refusing to provide identification to security personnel, he said he was the beloved Marvel superhero character and that he was a member of SOCCOM, prosecutors said in a criminal complaint.
He also continued to reach for a bag in his vehicle and became argumentative, authorities said. Roche allegedly said he would come back to the base every day to look for the officers denying him entry.
He eventually gave the officers his military ID showing him to be retired from the Air Force and was arrested. During a search of the car, authorities found a Colt AR-15 assault rifle in the trunk and five magazines loaded with 125 rounds of .556 caliber ammunition, the court documents said.
The Tampa Police Department also responded to the scene and interviewed Roche. Officials say Roche was involuntarily hospitalized \ due to his extreme state of paranoia, psychosis and threat to harm USAF security personnel.
SOURCE : https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-man-claims-captain-america-top-secret-information-air-force-base-doj-says.amp
2.) Veteran charged after trying to drive into Air Force base with AR-15 rifle
By J.P. LAWRENCE
STARS AND STRIPES • December 20, 202
The morning sun shines on a hangar on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., in 2021. A veteran, Baruch Roche II, faces a year in prison after being charged with attempted possession of a firearm in a federal facility. Roche attempted to enter MacDill with an AR-15 rifle and loaded magazines in his car trunk on Nov. 3, 2023, federal prosecutors said Dec. 20. (Tiffany Emery/U.S. Air Force)
A veteran was indicted this week after attempting to enter MacDill Air Force Base in November with an AR-15 rifle and loaded magazines in his trunk.
Baruch Roche II, 33, faces a year in prison after being charged with attempted possession of a firearm in a federal facility, a statement by federal prosecutors in Florida on Tuesday said.
On Nov. 3, the Tampa resident drove up to a security gate at MacDill and refused to provide an ID, instead calling himself “Captain America,” said the statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Roche said he is in the military and that he had a meeting to provide top secret information to a general of the U.S. Special Operations Command, federal prosecutors said.
MacDill Air Force Base is home to the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Special Operations Command.
Roche made incoherent statements and threatened to return to the gate every day to look for the security personnel denying him entry, according to the criminal complaint.
Security detained Roche and found an AR-15 rifle in the trunk of his Hyundai Genesis, as well as five magazines loaded with 125 rounds of ammunition, prosecutors said.
The court complaint states that Roche has a retired military ID card.
After his arrest, Roche told Tampa police that he has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, court documents said.
Local police determined that Roche had extreme paranoia and psychosis, and was a possible threat to Air Force security personnel. Police had him involuntarily hospitalized, the criminal complaint said.
Roche’s case is scheduled for a jury trial in February 2024.
SOURCE : https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2023-12-20/armed-veteran-base-indictment-12418754.html
Baruch Roche II, 33, was trying to enter the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa when he allegedly said he was meeting a general to provide top secret information.
Rouche approached the military installation in a Hyundai Genesis just before 2:15 p.m. on Nov. 3, the Justice Department said Tuesday. After refusing to provide identification to security personnel, he said he was the beloved Marvel superhero character and that he was a member of SOCCOM, prosecutors said in a criminal complaint.
He also continued to reach for a bag in his vehicle and became argumentative, authorities said. Roche allegedly said he would come back to the base every day to look for the officers denying him entry.
He eventually gave the officers his military ID showing him to be retired from the Air Force and was arrested. During a search of the car, authorities found a Colt AR-15 assault rifle in the trunk and five magazines loaded with 125 rounds of .556 caliber ammunition, the court documents said.
The Tampa Police Department also responded to the scene and interviewed Roche. Officials say Roche was involuntarily hospitalized \ due to his extreme state of paranoia, psychosis and threat to harm USAF security personnel.
SOURCE : https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-man-claims-captain-america-top-secret-information-air-force-base-doj-says.amp
2.) Veteran charged after trying to drive into Air Force base with AR-15 rifle
By J.P. LAWRENCE
STARS AND STRIPES • December 20, 202
The morning sun shines on a hangar on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., in 2021. A veteran, Baruch Roche II, faces a year in prison after being charged with attempted possession of a firearm in a federal facility. Roche attempted to enter MacDill with an AR-15 rifle and loaded magazines in his car trunk on Nov. 3, 2023, federal prosecutors said Dec. 20. (Tiffany Emery/U.S. Air Force)
A veteran was indicted this week after attempting to enter MacDill Air Force Base in November with an AR-15 rifle and loaded magazines in his trunk.
Baruch Roche II, 33, faces a year in prison after being charged with attempted possession of a firearm in a federal facility, a statement by federal prosecutors in Florida on Tuesday said.
On Nov. 3, the Tampa resident drove up to a security gate at MacDill and refused to provide an ID, instead calling himself “Captain America,” said the statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Roche said he is in the military and that he had a meeting to provide top secret information to a general of the U.S. Special Operations Command, federal prosecutors said.
MacDill Air Force Base is home to the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Special Operations Command.
Roche made incoherent statements and threatened to return to the gate every day to look for the security personnel denying him entry, according to the criminal complaint.
Security detained Roche and found an AR-15 rifle in the trunk of his Hyundai Genesis, as well as five magazines loaded with 125 rounds of ammunition, prosecutors said.
The court complaint states that Roche has a retired military ID card.
After his arrest, Roche told Tampa police that he has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, court documents said.
Local police determined that Roche had extreme paranoia and psychosis, and was a possible threat to Air Force security personnel. Police had him involuntarily hospitalized, the criminal complaint said.
Roche’s case is scheduled for a jury trial in February 2024.
SOURCE : https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2023-12-20/armed-veteran-base-indictment-12418754.html
Florida man claims to be 'Captain America' with top secret info to get onto Air Force base, DOJ...
A Florida man allegedly told Air Force security personnel that he was "Captain America" while trying to get onto the military installation.
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SGT Aaron Atwood
If he just gave an ID that probably would've been it and he could've gotten in no further questions asked.
99.9% of the time if I wanted to take an unregistered firearm from off to on base I absolutely could've.
99.9% of the time if I wanted to take an unregistered firearm from off to on base I absolutely could've.
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