Blackwater’s staff indicted for weapon law violation
April 18th, 2010 - 9:05 pm ICT by Pen Men At Work
April 18, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): Private military company Blackwater is in middle of controversy again. Former president of the organization Gary Jackson and four other former employees have been charged with federal weapons charges. An indictment was issued in North Carolina, where the company, now known as Xe Services is based.
Jackson along with four other former employees including former general Andrew Howell have been accused of conspiracy to violate firearms laws, making false statements and possessing an unregistered firearm. These result from a federal raid two years ago that rounded up 22 weapons, including AK-47s.
Blackwater has claimed that the weapons found at its North Carolina headquarters are legitimate. It has told press that the weapons kept in the armory was the result of deal that it had with local police department to hold the guns at its armory on behalf of the sheriff, who was legally permitted to own them
The latest controversy comes as a blow to Blackwater which has been trying to restore its reputation after the incident in IraqIraq were involved in a shooting incident in Baghdad in 2007. Blackwater’s guards who were protecting US diplomats in the that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead. Several of the Blackwater people were prosecuted but the accusations were thrown out of court after a judge found prosecutors had mishandled evidence.
Blackwater now Xe Services is currently trying to win a pentagon contract to train police in Afghanistan but the latest controversy seems to make road ahead bumpy for it.
- Five Former Blackwater Worldwide Employees Indicted - Apr 18, 2010
- Blackwater created shell firms to win contracts, says NYT - Sep 04, 2010
- Charges dismissed against Blackwater guards over Baghdad killings - Jan 01, 2010
- US government reviewing options in Blackwater case - Jan 09, 2010
- Musharraf approved Blackwater's terror operations in Pak: General Beg - Nov 16, 2009
- Blackwater accused of charging US government for payments to prostitute - Feb 12, 2010
- Is Blackwater's Erik Prince moving to UAE? - Jun 17, 2010
- CIA hired Blackwater to help hunt terrorists: Report - Aug 20, 2009
- US journalist accuses 'Blackwater' of being behind false flag terrorist attacks in Pak - Sep 25, 2010
- Blackwater to continue obtaining security contracts after deal with State Department - Aug 21, 2010
- Blackwater agents accused of taking 500 assault rifles meant for Afghan police - Feb 25, 2010
- Covert op charge: US embassy scraps land plan in Islamabad - Sep 21, 2010
- CIA terminates contract with controversial security firm Blackwater : Report - Dec 12, 2009
- CIA cuts contract with Blackwater for US drones - Dec 13, 2009
- US judge dismisses Blackwater case; Iraqis upset - Jan 02, 2010
Tags: accusations, ak 47s, andrew howell, armory, blackwater, diplomats, false statements, federal raid, firearms laws, former president, indictment, iraqi civilians, latest controversy, local police department, men at work, pen men, private military company, prosecutors, unregistered firearm, weapon law