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Date: 05-19-2023
Case Style:
Case Number: 21-cr-00047
Judge: Philip A. Brimmer
Court: United States District Court for the District of Colorado (Denver County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in Denver
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Denver, Colorado criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged withf carjacking, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to facts presented at trial, on January 2, 2021, the defendant was driving a BMW that struck a GMC pickup truck on East Colfax Avenue in Aurora. After both cars pulled over on a side street, Odifu got out of the BMW, put a pistol to the head of the female driver of the pickup truck, and demanded that she get out. Odifu told the male passenger that he would shoot the female driver in the head. Odifu opened the driver-side door and removed the female driver from the truck. Meanwhile, a co-defendant removed the male passenger at gunpoint. Odifu then drove away in the truck. Aurora Police Department officers located the truck a short time later in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Odifu and his co-defendants were inside. Odifu led officers on a high-speed chase through a busy area that ended with officers immobilizing the truck on Hampden Avenue. Odifu then fled on foot. Officers apprehended him and discovered a loaded pistol at the location where he was arrested.
“We are committed to doing all we can to address violence in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “We commend the work of our law enforcement partners that ensured this defendant was brought to justice, and hope that this conviction brings a measure of peace to the victims of this terrifying crime.”
“The Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAVEN), a multi-agency task force of local, state, and federal partners to which ATF belongs, has the critical mission of combatting and dismantling violent crime that endangers our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “Through this partnership, and with the great work of the Aurora Police Department, a dangerous and violent criminal who used gun violence to victimize our communities will be held accountable for his actions due to the successful prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
A federal jury returned the guilty verdicts against Odifu on May 17, 2023. Sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2023.
The ATF handled the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Rajiv Mohan and Kurt Bohn handled the prosecution.
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.
18 U.S.C. § 2119 Carjacking
(1)
18 U.S.C. § 2119 Carjacking
(1s)
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii) Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence
(2)
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii) - Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence
(2s)
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person
(3)
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) - Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person
(3s)
Outcome: 05/17/2023 260 COURTROOM MINUTES for Jury Trial - Day 3 as to Odifu Odifu completed on 5/17/2023 before Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer. Jury Verdict as to Odifu Odifu (1): Guilty on Count 1s, 2s, 3s. Sentencing set for 7/21/2023 09:00 AM in Courtroom A 701 before Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer. Court Reporter: Janet Coppock. (sgrim) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
05/17/2023 261 Jury Instructions read on May 16, 2023 as to Odifu Odifu. (sgrim) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
05/17/2023 262 Jury Note - Unredacted - Restricted Doc. - Level 4 (sgrim) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
05/17/2023 263 Jury Note as to Odifu Odifu. (sgrim) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
05/17/2023 264 Jury Verdict - Unredacted - Level 4 - Viewable by Court Only (sgrim) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
05/17/2023 265 JURY VERDICT as to Odifu Odifu. (sgrim) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
05/17/2023 266 MINUTE ORDER by Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 5/17/23 as to Odifu Odifu. It is ORDERED that at the conclusion of the trial, counsel for the parties shall retain custody of their respective exhibits and depositions until such time as all need for the exhibits and depositions has terminated and the time to appeal has expired or all appellate proceedings have been terminated, plus sixty days. Text Only Entry (sgrim, ) (Entered: 05/17/2023)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
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