PHOENIX (LAWFUEL) – Philip Marburger, 43, of Phoenix, was sentenced here today by U.S. District Judge Mary H. Murguia to 92 months prison, to be followed by four years of Supervised Release. Marburger previously pleaded guilty to two charges: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Marburger is one of several individuals prosecuted under Operation Suppressor, where undercover Phoenix Police Department (PPD) Detectives and Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) identified subjects engaged in illegal firearms and narcotics trafficking in Central Phoenix. In the early morning hours of June 24, 2005, defendant sold a quantity of methamphetamine to undercover ATF & PPD in the parking lot of a central Phoenix church. Following this sale, Marburger was involved in other methamphetamine sales at other Phoenix locations on July 19th, 20th, and August 4th of 2005. Additionally, in conjunction with the August 4, 2005 methamphetamine sale, defendant illegally possessed and sold a handgun. Marburger has an extensive criminal history in local, state, and federal justice systems, including a current sum total of twelve felony convictions.
Operation Suppresser is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an illegal firearms enforcement program. The effectiveness of Project Safe Neighborhoods in the District of Arizona is based on the ability of federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified offensive led by U.S. Attorney Diane Humetewa. Through ongoing partnerships among federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, like the one in this case, U.S. Attorney Humetewa is implementing a series of strategies that are contoured to fit the specific firearms crime problems throughout Arizona.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Michael Lee, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona.
CASE NUMBER: CR-05-924-PHX-MHM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2008-178(Marburger)
