Keymal Rucker, Illegal Firearms Purchase, Arizona 2023

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Keymal Bert Rucker, 31, of Laughlin, Nevada, is headed to federal prison for five years after admitting he used another person to illegally buy over one hundred firearms. U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich sentenced Rucker last week to 60 months for Aiding and Abetting a False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm.

Between May 2019 and July 2020, Rucker allegedly directed Rochelle Renee Conlin to act as his straw purchaser, hitting up gun stores across Arizona for at least 102 firearms. Rucker didn’t just tell her what to buy; he funded the purchases and then took possession of the weapons, all while knowing a felony conviction barred him from owning a single bullet. Five of those handguns have already turned up in California, raising questions about where they ended up and what damage they may have caused.

The bust wasn’t limited to just the straw purchase scheme. When ATF agents raided Rucker’s home, they found a veritable arsenal. Two machine gun conversion devices – the dangerous “switches” that turn pistols into fully automatic weapons – were seized, alongside a Glock pistol, an AR-15 style rifle, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. That’s on top of previously seized weapons from his vehicle and residence: two loaded .40 caliber handguns, an AK-47 pistol, high-capacity magazines, over 2,000 rounds of ammo, and body armor.

But it didn’t stop there. Investigators also discovered approximately $14,000 in cash, a cocktail of illegal narcotics – marijuana, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, and MDMA – an embossing machine, and enough explosives to cause serious harm. Seven jars of Tannerite and binary explosives were also recovered, suggesting Rucker wasn’t just stockpiling guns, but potentially planning something far more destructive.

Federal prosecutors, led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, highlighted the case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through coordinated law enforcement efforts. The program seeks to bring federal, state, and local agencies together to target violent offenders and make communities safer.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation. Rucker’s case is Case Number CR-21-08082-SMB-PHX. The 60-month sentence sends a clear message: facilitating illegal gun sales, especially with a criminal history and the presence of other dangerous materials, will not be tolerated. The streets of Arizona – and potentially California – are a little safer with Rucker behind bars.

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