⏱ 3 min read
Two city slickers from the Bronx tried to outsmart the system, but ended up getting caught in a web of lies. Elijah Javier Rodriguez, 27, and Javier Justin Rodriguez, 31, of New York, traveled to Dingman’s Shooting Range in Dingman’s Ferry, Pennsylvania on June 29, 2024, where they attempted to buy into the local gun culture.
But here’s the kicker: both brothers had a history of serious crime. Elijah had been convicted of multiple felonies, including identity theft, grand larceny, and possession of stolen property, while Javier had a rap sheet for criminal possession of a weapon. So when they arrived at the shooting range, they knew they had to spin a convincing tale to avoid getting caught.
That’s when they signed a declaration, under penalty of perjury, claiming they’d never been convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in the clink. But the truth is, they were just trying to get their hands on some serious firepower – including an AK-47 – without getting caught.
It’s a case of ‘guns and lies,’ and the brothers are now facing the music. Elijah got 33 months, while Javier got 24. Both brothers are currently behind bars, serving time for their crimes.
Related Federal Cases
- Sergei Zharnovnikov, Conspiracy to Export Firearms, New York 2024 · Alabama
- Josh Shapiro, Gun Age Limit Defense, Pennsylvania 2024 · Delaware
- Jose Fontanez, Stealing Firearms, New York, 2017 · Alabama
- John Doe, Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon, California 2023 · District of Columbia
- John Doe, Weapons Trafficking, New York 1976 · New York
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Weapons
- Defendant: Pennsylvania
- Location: PA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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