A Portsmouth man, Dartanguia Antonious Lee, also known as Donte, Dante, Dionte, Snoop, Snookie, and Bully, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for making false statements to illegally straw-purchase firearms in Virginia.
According to court documents, Lee, 42, is an armed career criminal with several previous felony convictions, including serious drug crimes and five convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Beginning in December 2019 and continuing until March 2020, Lee used his girlfriend as a straw-purchaser to obtain at least 19 firearms from four federally licensed firearms dealers.
As a previously convicted felon, Lee cannot purchase or possess firearms or ammunition. Lee often transferred the firearms to other convicted felons who could not purchase their own. Some of those firearms have already been recovered by law enforcement.
Lee still faces pending charges in North Carolina.
U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen handed down the sentence.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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