SOUTH BEND, IN – George L. Howell, 55, of South Bend, Indiana, is headed to federal prison for 48 months after admitting to orchestrating a scheme to illegally obtain a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty handed down the sentence Friday, following Howell’s guilty plea to aiding and abetting the making of false statements in the straw purchase of a gun.
Court documents reveal Howell couldn’t legally possess a firearm due to a rap sheet that includes battery resulting in serious bodily injury, burglary, and residential entry. Undeterred, he enlisted another individual to purchase a handgun at a South Bend pawn shop in January 2020. The buyer falsely certified on the required federal forms that they were the true purchaser, a blatant lie known to both parties.
The scheme unraveled when the firearm was recovered during a traffic stop – found inside the truck Howell was driving. Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) quickly connected the dots, tracing the gun back to the fraudulent purchase and ultimately to Howell. The investigation, bolstered by assistance from the South Bend Police Department, exposed a clear attempt to circumvent federal gun laws.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerome W. McKeever prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. The 48-month prison term is followed by one year of supervised release, giving Howell a chance – albeit a delayed one – to comply with the law. But this case isn’t just about one man; it’s part of a larger federal initiative.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and local communities. The DOJ recently reaffirmed its commitment to PSN, emphasizing focused enforcement and measurable results. This prosecution serves as a warning: attempting to skirt the law when it comes to firearms will be met with a swift and severe response.
Howell’s actions represent a dangerous disregard for public safety. As a convicted felon, he was already prohibited from possessing a firearm. His deliberate attempt to acquire one through deception will now cost him nearly four years of his freedom, and further solidifies the ATF’s commitment to keeping guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them.
Related Federal Cases
- Cory Jean Gainey, Firearm Straw Purchase, W.Va. 2015 · West Virginia
- Omran Ismail, Straw Purchase and Smuggling, IL 2024 · Illinois
- Dayquan A. Haley, Gun Straw Purchase, Alabama 2024 · Alabama
- Firearm Purchase Scam: Lawrence Cheats System, Faces 5 Years · Florida
- Jeff Landry, Firearm Purchase Tracking, Louisiana 2024 · Alaska
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