Gulfport Man Sentenced for Lying to Buy Gun
Gulfport, Mississippi – In a brazen attempt to circumvent the law, Isaac Q. Coleman, 25, of Gulfport, Mississippi, knowingly made a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm. The crime, which has been on the rise in recent years, is a serious offense that puts the community at risk.
According to court documents, on January 13, 2017, Coleman purchased a handgun at Cook’s Gun Shop, in D’Iberville, Mississippi, for Tony D. Crawford, a convicted felon. Coleman and Crawford entered the Gun Shop together and shopped for a firearm together. Crawford then paid Coleman, and Coleman purchased a 9mm pistol from the store.
It was later discovered that Coleman knowingly provided a false and fictitious written statement to the federal firearms licensee. This statement contained information that was required to be kept in official records, and the gun shop could not complete the transaction if it was known that the firearm actually was being purchased in what is commonly known as a ‘straw purchase’.
Ultimately, the firearm was found by ATF agents in the possession of Crawford. He was charged and pled guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Crawford is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Coleman was sentenced yesterday to seven months in federal prison and five months of home confinement, followed by 2 years of supervised release, for knowingly making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm. He was also ordered to pay a $3,500.00 fine. He pled guilty to the charge on September 20, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Biloxi Police Department, and the D’Iberville Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of straw purchases and the importance of strict gun laws. The community demands more from those who would seek to exploit the system for their own gain.
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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