Firearms Kingpin Davenport Sentenced to 6 Years

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The grim saga of Keith Davenport III’s reign over a firearms trafficking enterprise has reached its conclusion. Today, the 22-year-old Columbus native was handed a 72-month sentence by U.S. District Court for his role in a sprawling conspiracy.

In October 2024, Davenport and five others were indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to commit offenses against the United States through false statements on federal firearms forms. Davenport directed the operation, using stolen credit card information to order guns online, recruiting straw purchasers, and arranging resales of the illegal wares.

According to court documents, Davenport’s gang was responsible for transferring at least 42 guns illegally. The scheme also targeted over 200 firearms in fraudulent purchases. One of these firearms was recovered during a narcotics trafficking search warrant by Columbus police SWAT officers. Another handgun was discovered on an individual stopped for illegal presence in the U.S. during a traffic stop in 2022.

Adding to his rap sheet, Davenport faces pending charges in Medina County for attempting to break into a post office and assaulting two police officers and a hospital security officer. While on bond in this case, he was charged with domestic violence and assault, leading to the revocation of his bail.

Davenport pleaded guilty in April 2025 to firearms conspiracy and aggravated identity fraud. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney Dominick S. Gerace, ATF’s John Smerglia, and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant, who presided over the case with Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison.

Assistant United States Attorneys S. Courter Shimeall and Damoun Delaviz are representing the government in this high-profile case.

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