Antoine Montrond, Straw Purchase Conspiracy, Maine 2020

PORTLAND, Maine – Antoine Montrond, 23, of Brockton, Massachusetts, learned his gun-running days are over today, slapped with a sentence of one year and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen delivered the sentence in Portland after Montrond pleaded guilty back in April to conspiring to violate federal firearms laws.

The scheme, laid bare in court records, dates back to January 2020. Montrond and at least one accomplice allegedly bypassed legal gun sales by utilizing a “straw purchaser” – someone with a clean record who falsely claimed to be the actual buyer of the firearms. This allowed Montrond, who likely would have failed a background check himself, to obtain weapons illegally. The pair scored two firearms from a Kittery, Maine gun store through this deceptive tactic.

Law enforcement caught a break in May 2020 when a traffic stop landed one of those illegally obtained firearms – a Glock Model 23 .40 caliber pistol – directly in Montrond’s possession. It wasn’t an isolated incident. Investigators uncovered evidence that Montrond’s network managed to illegally procure a total of seven firearms through similar straw purchase arrangements. His co-conspirators have already faced Judge Torresen and received their own sentences.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, dismantling a clear attempt to flood the streets with illegally sourced weaponry. A straw purchase, for those unfamiliar, is a federal crime where someone legally buys a firearm for another person who is prohibited from owning one or simply wants to conceal their involvement. It’s a tactic favored by criminals and those looking to arm others with nefarious intent.

Federal prosecutors are framing this case as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a multi-faceted program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. PSN relies on collaboration between all levels of law enforcement and community organizations, focusing on strategic enforcement and building trust within neighborhoods. The Department of Justice launched a renewed focus on PSN in 2021, emphasizing preventative measures and data-driven results.

While Montrond’s sentence may seem relatively light to some, federal authorities hope it sends a message: facilitating illegal gun sales carries serious consequences. The ATF continues to aggressively pursue these cases, aiming to stem the flow of firearms into the hands of those who would use them to commit violence. Details on Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at www.justice.gov/psn.

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