Everytown for Gun Safety and other gun control groups have called on Congress to strengthen laws governing gun trafficking and straw purchases. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. This is not the same thing as purchasing a firearm as a genuine, bonafide gift. Tell us what you think about the songs we play! But during his trial, Rittenhouse testified in court that he drove himself from his home in Illinois to Kenosha on August 24, 2020, the day before he fatally shot two men. 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A straw purchase is any purchase in which a second person agrees to acquire a firearm for someone else. Kyle Ritchie was found guilty of buying four guns from a licensed dealer in Wausau last year by representing himself as the actual buyer. Valentine, 23, of La Crosse, Wisc., and Rocha, 28, are charged with conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, and unlawfully dealing and importing firearms. This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Departments program to reduce violent crime. The backers of the proposal, which passed the legislature on a voice vote, say the move was requested by the Milwaukee Police Department. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Feds say 'straw buyer' purchased 39 handguns for a felon since July, paid more than $25,000 cash to firearms dealers. The governor and Lane are supporting House Bill 306. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The motives of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, were less clear that night. In the lawsuit, Ellison ask for "strengthened oversight of Fleet Farm's operations and increased training to prevent sales of guns to straw purchasers." The attorney general also wants Fleet Farm . Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Just hours before the protests, Rosenbaum had been released from a hospital following psychiatric care for a suicide attempt. When I dress Western, nothing beats the classic good looks of my Smith & Wesson (S&W) 586 .357 revolver. The 29-year-old Indiana man allegedly acted as a straw purchaser to buy the firearm used to kill Chicago police Officer Ella French. Rittenhouse did testify that his mother drove him to a local police station to surrender following the shootings. Chicago, IL 60604 When a person buys a gun intending to later sell it to someone else, the government often prosecutes the initial buyer under 18 U.S.C. Wisconsin Gov. The weapon Rittenhouse used to shoot the three men was obtained in what many would consider a "straw purchase" arms sale. The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence. The bill, SB 408, was among 41 signed by. A straw purchaser can be identified as a person with a clean background who purchases firearms specifically on behalf of a person prohibited from purchasing a firearm because that prohibited person is a convicted felon, domestic violence misdemeanant, juvenile, an individual who has been adjudicated mentally ill or one who is prohibited for other An investigation by law enforcement revealed that she purchased the firearms from an individual who accompanied her to the store and provided her with cash at the time of the purchase. CHICAGO A Chicago resident has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for setting fire to the Boost Mobile Store Eastern Division was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four . A Wisconsin jury fully acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse on Friday, finding him not guilty on five counts. Wisconsin resident KIRK VALENTINE purchased the firearms at retail stores, pawn shops and gun shows, and falsely certified on required forms that he was the actual buyer, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Judge William Conley said Ritchie knew he was purchasing guns for a known drug dealer, which warranted a prison sentence even though he has no prior sentences on his record. Section 18 U.S.C. You have permission to edit this article. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. GRGB Law serves people in the greater Milwaukee area and all of SE Wisconsin, as well as Midstate Wisconsin and throughout the state, including: You do not have JavaScript enabled. Learn how you can help drug endangered children. WisPolitics.com & WisBusiness.com: The clean energy shift is underway: How will the Inflation Reduction Act accelerate the transition? A straw purchase is when you purchase a firearm at the behest of another person. The Khindri brothers who own the dealership denied this under oath, but multiple other witnesses testified against them, backing Rittenhouse's version. Straw purchases are deemed a federal crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. You should know the laws that apply to buying firearms as gifts for another person. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Urban Health that screened 149 licensed retailers in California found roughly 1 in 5 agreed to participate in a straw purchase of a handgun. You are the original buyer, yet you have no intent to own the gun. Federal law criminalizes making false statements about a material fact on ATF forms and criminalizes presenting false identification when purchasing a firearm. It is legal to purchase a firearm as a gift for another, since you are actually buying the firearm for yourself to gift to another. But Rittenhouse's possession of the firearm at the time was technically legal. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives provided assistance. States such as Ohio, Nebraska, Oregon, and Delaware have individual straw purchase laws. A jury fully acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse on Friday, bringing a close to the high-profile and often tense trial that reflected America's deep political polarization. We are tired of t. This case is the latest example of the daily work police officers, federal agents and United States Attorneys are doing to safeguard communities and create a culture of accountability for gun offenders.. Nov. 10, 2021. The bill, SB 408, was among 41 signed by the Republican without comment this week. Walker signed the measure bumping up the penalty for an illegal straw purchase of a gun under Wisconsin law from nine months to six years in prison. The two reportedly agreed that Black would keep the gun until Rittenhouse turned 18 in January 2021, according to court testimony. Sentencing Guidelines. The indictment describes seven firearm transactions in Wisconsin: Holding straw purchasers accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods the Department of Justices violent crime reduction strategy. A Cold War era classic with smooth lines, a legendary back story, and an exotic-sounding name, Beretta's Model 71 was definitely a mouse that roared. Merrill woman sentenced for making false statements while purchasing firearms, Liverpool and United call on fans to stop 'tragedy chanting', Rangers, Bruins among winners at close of NHL trade deadline, Skier Shiffrin's quest for 86th win extended after downhill, Jin Young Ko leads by 2 after 3rd round at LPGA Singapore, Western Illinois plays in Summit Tournament against the St. Thomas, Washington St. stuns No. Official websites use .gov WAUSAU, Wis. (WAOW) -- A Wausau woman has been charged with making a false statement while purchasing firearms, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. During the legislative process for SB 408, law enforcement representatives from Wisconsins largest city testified to lawmakers that officers in Milwaukee recovered more guns per capita than in Chicago. The individual is also accused of using one of the weapons to commit a homicide. March 8, 2018: Valentine purchased three handguns at Gander Outdoors in Onalaska, Wisc. April 13, 2018: Valentine purchased a handgun at Big Rooster Firearms in Sparta, Wisc. He was ordered released on bond, and a status hearing was scheduled for Sept. 17, 2019, before U.S. District Judge John Z. Lee. Ashley Zastrow, 32, purchased two firearms in Wisconsin Rapids on Jan. 13, 2022. 941.2905 Straw purchasing of firearms. May 19, 2018: Valentine purchased seven handguns from a dealer at Bob and Roccos Gun Show in Onalaska, Wisc. This prison term will be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. The judge noted that the prosecution did not find any evidence of his affiliation with a white supremacist group in phone records or social media history, and as Michelle Mark previously reported, ruled the trip to the bar was not relevant to the 2020 shooting. Who Can't Buy a Gun in Wisconsin? She disputed the defense attorney's characterization of Huber as a "rioter" or "looter." This is not John Waynes revolver it is a modern work of art! MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O'Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ashley Zastrow, 32, Merrill, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 1 year and 1 day in federal prison for making false statements during the purchase of two firearms. During this 10-day waiting period, the DOJ conducts a firearm eligibility background check to ensure the purchaser is not prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms. Fighting violent crime is a top priority in our office, and we are committed to holding accountable those who engage in illicit firearm transactions.. An official website of the United States government. An indictment. CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Wisconsin man is charged with providing the gun to teenager Kyle Rittenhouse who then allegedly killed two men during the unrest in late August. Prosecutors said Black bought the gun for Rittenhouse in what is known as a straw purchase. "In sentencing Zastrow, U.S. District Judge William M. Conley stated that she made a disastrous choice to transfer firearms to a prohibited person and could not ignore the fact that this choice contributed to a womans death. The civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Blake family, falsely described Rittenhouse on Friday as a "self-declared white nationalist." Chicago, a much larger city but with similarly high murder rate, recovered 247 guns per 100,000 people. Graap is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety. Pennington is prohibited from purchasing a firearm due to multiple felony convictions in the state of Wisconsin. Scott Walker on Wednesday approved a measure touted as making it easier to prosecute illegal straw purchasing of firearms in the state. In all, the agency logged 2,420 firearms in 2016, a rate of 407 per 100,000 people. It is legal to purchase a firearm as a gift for another, if you are actually buying the firearm for . Straw buying is a felony in progressive Connecticut, albeit one in the second-least-serious order of felonies. Straw purchasers and firearm traffickers enable unlawful possession of guns and the violence that may follow, said John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Call us at 414-271-1440 or send us an e-mail today to discuss your case. Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. Assembly Bill 524 and its counterpart, Senate Bill 408, were introduced in August by state Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin, and Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills. According to federal law, an individual convicted of a straw purchase may be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, and may even be required to pay a fine of . Judge Conley also reasoned that a prison sentence was warranted given the defendants poor performance on pre-trial release and nominal efforts to confront her methamphetamine addiction. CHICAGO Two men have been indicted on federal firearm charges for conspiring to straw purchase 19 handguns in Wisconsin and re-sell them in Chicago. of Justice: Merrill woman sentenced to prison for making false statements during purchase of firearms, WisPolitics luncheon with Gov. I have no answer. He was acquitted on all counts. MADISON, WIS. Timothy M. OShea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ashley Zastrow, 32, Merrill, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 1 year and 1 day in federal prison for making false statements during the purchase of two firearms. All Rights Reserved, Gov. Court documents showed the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 rifle was purchased by Black on May 1 at Ladysmith Ace . If they ask you to buy it, fill out the 4473 in your name, and then pay you . The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force, Wisconsin DOJ- Division of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI. There was a problem saving your notification. Editor's note: This story has been corrected to make clear in graf 18 that Jacob Blake was shot and he survived. The gun . Epic 22 Pocket Pistol: The Beretta 71 Jaguar. "Why was he there? Commercial Contract Review, Drafting, and Negotiation, Employment Contracts and Non-Compete Agreements, Data Breaches / Cybersecurity Civil Defense, Identity Theft / Internet Fraud Charges Defense, Governmental Licensing, Compliance and Administrative Review, Professional Licensing and Disciplinary Defense. FOND DU LAC, Wis. - Attorney General Josh Kaul today announced that criminal charges have been filed against Denell Logan for first degree intentional homicide, felon in passion of a firearm, repeater, and possession of THC, repeater. Have a question about Government Services? Straw purchase is a purchase where a purchaser knowingly acquiring an item or service for someone. (2) The prohibition in sub. But Rittenhouse has never publicly identified as a member of any extremist group. According to Kenoshanews. Each count of the indictment is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. This is known as a "straw purchase" and is a crime. Thats why tougher laws on straw purchases are a priority for gun control groups. (2) The prohibition in sub. The barrels under 16 inches should've only applied to 18 year old+ who were legally allowed to carry. MADISON (WJFW) - A Merrill woman was sentenced on Thursday to one year and one day in prison for making false statements during the purchase of two firearms. In the first six months of 2018, the pair caused at least 19 handguns to be purchased in Wisconsin and transported to Chicago, where Rocha and others re-sold and distributed them, the indictment states. The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a major victory to gun control advocates on Monday. of Justice: Merrill woman sentenced to prison for making false statements during purchase of firearms. Attorneys Albert Berry III and Elizabeth Pozolo. The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence. His Illinois residence helped spur rumors that the teenager traveled to Wisconsin with his rifle illegally in tow. . After providing personal information, question 21 - made up of 11 "yes" or "no" sub-questions - begins by asking "Are you the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm (s) listed on this form . Judge Conley also reasoned that a prison sentence was warranted given the defendants poor performance on pre-trial release and nominal efforts to confront her methamphetamine addiction. Some other states have looser regulations that prohibit individuals from knowingly encouraging sellers to conduct those illegal firearm transfers, according to the group. as well as other partner offers and accept our. If you are being charged with making a straw purchase or with any other gun crime, contact our skilled Milwaukee criminal defense attorneys, who have defended many of these types of cases and are ready to defend you and protect your rights. Ashley Zastrow will serve one year and one day in federal prison for presenting herself as the buyer of the handguns when in fact she was not. Direct Evidence in Wisconsin Criminal Cases. But any violation of the Gun Control Act, 1968 make the . Danzy, 29, is the alleged "straw purchaser" of the weapon that was used to fatally shoot Officer French and seriously wound her partner, who had. The offense is known as a 'straw purchase.' The person that Zastrow bought the firearms for was a convicted felon. Rocha was ordered to remain in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Sept. 10, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. Valentine self-surrendered to the Court on Aug. 5, 2019. Texas Gun Sense info@txgunsense.org PO Box 92722, Austin, TX 78709-2722 (512) 903-4186 Therefore, if you are being charged with making a straw purchase of a firearm, it is very important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side from the very beginning. MADISON, WI (WSAU) A Merrill woman has been sentenced for making false statements to secure the purchase of two firearms, a practice known as a straw purchase. gun for an acquaintance in Chicago who was unable to buy a firearm himself due to a past felony conviction for theft in Wisconsin. U.S. Attorney Lausch announced the charges along with Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI, and Eddie Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Law enforcement agents call people who buy guns for those who aren't legally . Project Safe Neighborhoodsis a nationwide initiativeto reduce gun violence and violent crime in neighborhoods across the country. Johnson. Rocha was arrested in Wisconsin on Aug. 9, 2019. The Nylon 66, a relatively inexpensive rimfire with faux woodgrain, was the first successful synthetic-stock firearm. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Smith & Wesson Model 586: Reviewing A .357 Revolver With Class. MADISON, WI (WSAU) A Merrill woman has been sentenced for making false statements to secure the purchase of two firearms, a practice known as a straw purchase. Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. NSSF employee Michael Bazinet spends a lot of time focusing on the "Don't Lie . An investigation by law enforcement revealed that she purchased these firearms for an individual who accompanied her to the store and provided her with cash at the time of purchase. Lock Black said he used Rittenhouse's . The other hand shows a straw purchase as buying a gun and selling it directly to someone who can pass their own background check, without actually taking the background check. Judge Conley also reasoned that a prison sentence was warranted given the defendants poor performance on pre-trial release and nominal efforts to confront her methamphetamine addiction. MADISON, WI (WSAU) A Merrill woman has been sentenced for making false statements to secure the purchase of two firearms, a practice known as a straw purchase. Black is now being prosecuted for participating in the illegal straw purchase of the weapon on behalf of Rittenhouse. Dept. Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool, NOW WATCH: VIDEO: Kyle Rittenhouse breaks down crying at his homicide trial, threw out a count of possession of a dangerous weapon, Rosenbaum had been released from a hospital, did issue a "call to arms" ahead of the violence, Rittenhouse went to a bar in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. This prison term will be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Rittenhouse was also charged with reckless endangerment of two additional men. Both the purchaser and the intended buyer are criminally liable under these statutes; the actual buyer is criminally liable for aiding and abetting the straw purchase, and for causing another to make false statements. Giving someone a firearm carries a certain level of legal responsibility that does not come with gifting iPads or socks. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday during his arraignment in federal court in Chicago before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes. Similarly, those acting as a human holster for a criminal would be subject to a felony. Sign up for notifications from Insider! WisPolitics.com DC breakfast with U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, WisPolitics luncheon with Marquette University Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC), Two Men Indicted in Scheme to Straw Purchase Firearms in Wisconsin and Re-Sell Them in Chicago, Federal Judge Sentences Rockford Man to More Than Five Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearm in Rockford, Federal Inmate Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Assaulting Federal Correctional Officer, Chicago Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Setting Fire to Cell Phone Store, Two Men Indicted In Scheme To Straw Purchase Firearms In Wisconsin and Re Sell Them In Chicago. Any violations of these laws can result in a 10-year prison sentence and fines up to $250,000. Section 18 U.S.C. Tony Evers. Good luck with that. A lock ( ROCKFORD A federal judge has sentenced a Rockford man to five years and four months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm in Rockford, to be followed by ROCKFORD A former inmate of the United States Penitentiary in Thomson, Ill. was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison for assaulting a federal correctional officer. First Criminal Conviction for Spoofing May Increas New Challenge to the Informing the Accused Form, Foiled Crimes: The Crime of Attempt in Wisconsin, Welfare Drug Testing and the Constitution. How Can Employers Avoid Accusations of Wrongful Termination? Here's what it's like to shoot this classic scattergun. The two reportedly agreed that Black would keep the gun until Rittenhouse turned 18 in January 2021, according to court testimony. The criminal case against the 19-year-old who allegedly made the straw purchase that provided Kyle Rittenhouse his gun has been put on . Rosenbaum was seen in a number of videos not protesting but causing destruction, setting fires, tipping over a Porta Potty, wielding a chain, and at one point even shouting the N-word. The person that Zastrow bought the firearms for was a convicted felon. During a trip to Black's family's hunting property in May 2020, Black agreed to buy a rifle for Rittenhouse, who was 17 and couldn't lawfully buy or possess one. Generally, secretly purchasing a gun on someone else's behalf from a gun dealer, called a straw purchase, is illegal. According to a press release form the Western District of Wisconsin U.S. Department of Justice: An investigation by law enforcement revealed that Zastrow purchased these firearms for someone who accompanied her to the store and provided her with cash at the time of purchase. The Judge gave him the break of a lifetime by obfuscating two different statues. "Straw purchasing a firearm is a federal crime with serious consequences," said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. This is illegal. First things first, if you have reasonable cause to believe the person you're gifting a firearm to is prohibited from possessing . Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The law raises the maximum penalty for the illegal straw purchasing of guns under state law from a $10,000 fine and nine months in jail to six years in prison. In sentencing Zastrow, Judge Conley stated that she made a disastrous choice to transfer firearms to a prohibited person and could not ignore the fact that this choice contributed to a womans death. In the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Lausch and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, including by prosecuting individuals who illegally purchase firearms. The gun was already being stored at a friend's house in Kenosha, according to police records and court testimony. A "straw" purchase is a firearm purchase when one person buys the firearm with the intent of giving the gun to another person for their primary use. In order to complete the purchase of the firearms, she represented that she was the actual buyer of these firearms when she was not. Who Can Be Held Liable for Winter Truck Accidents. This indictment demonstrates the FBIs commitment to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to help stop the flow of illegal guns into our neighborhoods., We are going to continue to use the full weight of the Chicago Police Department and U.S. Justice Department to send a clear message that we will not tolerate the proliferation and use of illegal guns in Chicago, said CPD Supt. This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Departments program to reduce violent crime. It is a bill that would prohibit so-called "straw purchases" of firearms; it would make this practice a fourth-degree felony in New Mexico, according to a press release from the governor's office. Licensed dealers also are required under federal law to maintain records on their gun sales and make them available to law enforcement for inspection. May 13, 2018: Valentine purchased two handguns at Ace Hardware in La Crosse, Wisc. Resolving a split between federal circuit courts of appeal, the Supreme Court holds that the prohibition in 18 U. S. C. 922 (a) (6) against making false statements about "any fact material to the lawfulness of the sale" of a firearm applies to a "straw" purchasera person who buys a gun on someone else's behalf while falsely . The charge against Zastrow was the result of an investigation conducted bythe Lincoln County Sheriffs Office, Merrill Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Marshfield Police Department. 20 Colorado for Pac-12 title berth, Olympic ticket sales for Paris Games gets off to rocky start.