Norfolk, Va. – A conspiracy to straw purchase firearms has landed a Vineland, New Jersey resident behind bars. David Collins, 34, was sentenced to 22 months in prison for his role in the straw purchasing conspiracy.
Between March 2020 and July 23, 2020, Collins, along with Cardel Howard and Felicia Tyson, conspired to purchase firearms in Virginia Beach and traffic them to New Jersey. Tyson, a Norfolk resident, acted as a straw purchaser for Howard and Collins, purchasing seven firearms and attempting to purchase an eighth.
Howard directed Tyson on which firearms to purchase and how much to charge others for them. Collins traveled from New Jersey to Virginia to acquire a firearm, which he could not purchase on his own due to his status as a convicted felon and New Jersey resident.
The investigation into the group began after law enforcement in New Jersey recovered a firearm during a shooting investigation and determined that it was previously purchased by Tyson. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime through a combination of enforcement and prevention efforts.
Collins was the third individual to be sentenced in the case. On February 15, Cardel Howard was sentenced to 22 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Felicia Tyson was sentenced to 14 months in prison on February 8.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Darrell Longwood, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Montoya prosecuted the case. The case is part of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. For related court documents and information, visit the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-76.
Related Federal Cases
- David Collins, Firearm Straw Purchasing Conspiracy, Virginia 2020 · Alabama
- Brandon Locke, Gun and Drug Trafficking, Virginia 2023 · Alabama
- John Magobet, Making False Statements to Purchase Guns, Virginia 2023 · Alabama
- Nicholas T. Billman, AK-47 Armed Robbery, Ohio 2015 · Virginia
- William D. Fulmer, Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon, WV 2024 · Maryland
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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