United States Attorney Joe W. Stecher and the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the United States Marshal Service announce the following information for the attention of the media:

Event Triggering this Release: Benjamin Manley, plead guilty to assault on a federal law enforcement officer and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.  His guilty plea, given to U.S. District Court Judge Joseph F. Bataillon, allowed Manley to avoid a trial on those charges and others.  As a part of the plea agreement filed in connection with his guilty plea, Manley has agreed to accept a 15 year sentence. 

Manley was wanted by a Federal Fugitive Task Force for non-appearance in Iowa courts on a tax stamp violation.  Manley eluded officers of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department on August 14, 2007, when he brandished a firearm and sped away from the officers who were attempting to capture him.  The Federal Fugitive Task Force learned that Manley was hiding out in Omaha, and on August 24, 2007, successfully lured him to the Quick Trip gas station on the corner of Hamilton & Saddle Creek. Manley approached an individual with whom he was familiar and began a conversation before noticing that Task Force members were closing in on him.  Manley then ran away from Task Force officers and, while running, pulled a .38 caliber handgun from his waist which was then discharged, striking the windshield of a U.S. Marshal’s van.  Manley continued to run across the parking lot of the gas station and through the southbound lanes of Saddle Creek before he was tasered and apprehended in the northbound lanes of Saddle Creek.  Manley’s sentencing is scheduled before Judge Bataillon on March 22, 2008, at 1:00 p.m.

Name of Defendant: Benjamin Manley     

AKA: Christopher Reeves

Crime(s) Charged and Potential Penalty (A CHARGE is merely an accusation and every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty): Assault on a federal officer, 20 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, 3 years term of supervised release, $100 special assessment.; felon is possession of a firearm, 10 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, 3 years term of supervised release, $100 special assessment.

Specific Location of Alleged Crime: Quick Trip gas station, Hamilton & Saddlecreek

Location of Arrest:  Quick Trip gas station, Hamilton & Saddlecreek

Alleged Dollar Loss/Type and Quantity of Drug: N/A

Others Charged in Same Scheme: N/A

Relevant Dates: 

Date of Alleged Crime: August 24, 2007

Federal Arrest Date: August 24, 2007

Date Complaint Issued: N/A

Indictment Returned Date: September 17, 2007

Initial Appearance Date: October 10, 2007

Plea or Trial and Date(s): February 27, 2008

Sentencing Date: March 22, 2008

Next Court Hearing Type and Date: Sentencing on March 22, 2008

Assigned Magistrate Judge: F.A. Gossett III

Held without Bond, or Released from Custody: Held without bond

In Continuous Custody Since: August 24, 2007

Assigned District Court Judge: Joseph F. Bataillon

Initials of Assigned AUSA/Preparer of THIS Release: FDF/hjl

Carrie Sawicki
Chief Division Counsel
Media Coordinator
FBI, Omaha Division
402-492-3733