Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.  It can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, sex, or gender identity. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Domestic violence occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships and can happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, dating, or share a child.

In an effort to prevent more domestic violence related homicides from occurring in the Eastern District of Texas, the strategy behind Operation Purple Ribbon is clear—to bring together and unite federal, state, and local resources for the sole purpose of holding domestic abusers accountable.  The initiative prioritizes prosecutions of federal firearms offenses (and other criminal offenses) that arise in domestic violence settings.  Operation Purple Ribbon is intended to be a force multiplier to the work already being by our state and local law enforcement partners, who do the heavy lifting in seeking to hold domestic abusers accountable.  

Most federal domestic violence crimes fall into two categories:

·       Offenses under the Gun Control Act, which prevents prohibited persons—including convicted felons, individuals previously convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, and individuals subject to certain protective orders—from possessing firearms, or from lying to firearms dealers about their status; and

·       Crimes under the Violence Against Women Act, which prohibits interstate stalking, cyberstalking, and using interstate commerce to commit domestic violence or violate protective orders.

Although Operation Purple Ribbon was formally announced last week, the Eastern District of Texas has been doing impactful work in this space for over a year and has prosecuted more than 20 domestic abusers who unlawfully possessed firearms.  One of those cases was John Richard Burch, Jr., an individual with a history of domestic violence, sentenced to 235 months in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations.  Another case was Jorge Luis Castelan, Jr., sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for a firearms violation arising from a domestic disturbance. 

“In the Eastern District of Texas, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to hold domestic abusers accountable, particularly when that abuser is in possession of a firearm, as it is our goal to promote peace and safety in the home,” said U.S. Attorney Damien Diggs.  “We have no higher priority than keeping our communities and families safe.  Every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment and without fear from those within their homes.”