Related Federal Cases
Ex-Cop Gets 5 Years Probation in Gun Straw Purchase Scandal
A former Tulsa police officer has been sentenced to five years of probation for conspiring to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when purchasing a pistol on behalf of her boyfriend. Latoya Lisa Dythe, 27, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III, who also ordered her to pay a fine of $1,000.
Dythe pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to make a false statement to a firearms dealer and to false statement to a firearms dealer. Her boyfriend, Devon Jamyll Jones, 28, was charged as a coconspirator and is awaiting trial.
According to court documents, Dythe and Jones agreed that she would purchase a firearm for him at a Bass Pro Shop in April 2022. Dythe filled out required forms to purchase the firearm, a FN HERSTAL S.A., 5.7 X 28mm, but answered ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Are you the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm(s) listed on this form,’ when in fact she was not.
Dythe admitted that she knew her actions were illegal when she committed the crime, and that she immediately gave the firearm to Jones following the purchase. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473 specifically warns purchasers that they are not the actual transferee/buyer if they are acquiring the firearm on behalf of another person.
The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Snow prosecuting the case. The case was prosecuted as part of the 2150 Initiative, a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Tulsa Police Department, ATF, and other local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement partners to combat violent crime.
Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson said, ‘My office is committed to holding accountable individuals who engage in illicit firearms transactions, including straw purchases. Too often, straw purchases are linked to gun violence within communities across our nation. Latoya Dythe’s choice to illegally purchase a firearm on behalf of another not only ended her career as a Tulsa police officer, but also placed Tulsans at risk.’
Dyte’s sentence is a stark reminder of the consequences of engaging in illicit firearms transactions. As the nation grapples with the issue of gun violence, cases like this serve as a warning to those who would seek to exploit the system for their own gain.
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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