Abdullahi Issak, Firearms Conspiracy, Maine 2022

State: Maine
Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/lewiston-man-sentenced-10-years-exchanging-cashdrugs-illegal-firearms-purchases" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

A 26-year-old Lewiston man is behind bars for his role in an illegal straw purchasing conspiracy and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Abdullahi Issak was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release in U.S. District Court in Bangor, Maine. Issak pleaded guilty on April 13, 2023.

According to court records, between December 2021 and July 2022, Issak conspired to have 36 firearms straw purchased for him at federal firearms dealers throughout central and southern Maine. Issak directed the purchasers where to buy the firearms, what firearms to buy, and provided them cash or drugs in return for engaging in the illegal transactions.

Issak took possession of the firearms from the straw purchasers following each sale. He was also sentenced for knowingly possessing one of the firearms that was purchased for him at a federal firearms dealer in Jay. A 2019 New York felony conviction precluded Issak from possessing firearms.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, uncovering a complex web of illegal firearm transactions.

Issak’s case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The program was launched by the federal government in 2021 and focuses on fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations, and setting strategic enforcement priorities.

Issak’s 10-year prison sentence is a stark reminder of the consequences of engaging in illegal firearm transactions. The case serves as a warning to those who would seek to exploit loopholes in the law for personal gain.

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