Diamond Smith, Straw Purchasing, Illinois 2020

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Woman Charged with Straw Purchasing in Illinois

CHICAGO — A woman has been indicted on federal firearm charges for allegedly straw purchasing handguns in a Chicago suburb on behalf of another individual.

Diamond Smith, 28, of Chicago, is charged with three counts of making false statements in connection with the acquisition of a firearm. The charges were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Kristen deTineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

According to the indictment, Smith purchased a total of seven handguns, including two semi-automatic pistols, from a licensed firearms dealer in Oak Forest, Ill., on three occasions in 2019 and 2020. She falsely certified on federal forms that she was the actual buyer, when in reality, she purchased the guns on behalf of another individual.

“Straw purchasers too often play a grave role in enabling the unlawful possession of guns and the violence that can follow,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “Our office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to stop the flow of guns to individuals who cannot legally purchase them.”

Smith is set to appear in court today at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim. Each count in the indictment is punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Diamond Smith, who is currently facing federal firearm charges, is expected to be sentenced if convicted. The exact sentence will be determined by the court based on federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.