INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A brotherly scheme to arm criminals has landed two Indianapolis men in trouble with the law. Jacob Tomlin, 28, and Ryan White, 21, have been sentenced for their roles in a gun trafficking operation that funneled weapons onto the streets of both Indianapolis and Chicago. The case, investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), highlights the deadly consequences of “straw purchasing” – a practice that puts firearms into the hands of those legally prohibited from owning them.
The ATF began tracing the origins of firearms recovered at crime scenes in both cities during the summer of 2021. Their investigation quickly zeroed in on Tomlin, who was purchasing handguns from licensed Indiana dealers. Court documents reveal Tomlin purchased 15 handguns between May 19 and June 8, 2021, all while falsely claiming on federal forms that the weapons were for his own use. The truth? He was buying them for his younger brother, Ryan White, who was legally barred from purchasing firearms himself.
White, too young to legally own the guns, didn’t just hoard them. He flipped them for profit, illegally reselling the trafficked firearms on the black market. Both men eventually confessed to the scheme when confronted by ATF agents. Tomlin pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer and received two years of probation. White, pleading guilty to dealing firearms without a license, received an 18-month federal prison sentence in January 2023, followed by two years of supervised release.
“This investigation demonstrates exactly how straw-purchases of firearms help to fuel gun violence in Indianapolis, Chicago, and elsewhere,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Gun traffickers help arm criminals who should never have had access to deadly weapons in the first place, increasing the bloodshed on our streets.” Myers emphasized his office’s commitment to working with the ATF to cut off the supply of illegal guns and hold traffickers accountable.
U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney handed down the sentences. This case was part of the Department of Justice’s Chicago Gun Trafficking Strike Force, launched in July 2021. The strike force aims to coordinate efforts across jurisdictions to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking in key regions including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. The goal: to stem the flow of illegal guns from source cities to communities plagued by gun violence.
The ATF’s Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Columbus Field Division, joined Myers in announcing the sentencing. Assistant United States Attorneys Abhi Kambli and Samantha Spiro prosecuted the case, securing convictions that, while offering some measure of justice, underscore the persistent threat of illegal gun trafficking and its devastating impact on communities nationwide. The investigation remains a stark reminder of how easily criminals can obtain weapons, and the urgent need for stricter enforcement of existing gun laws.
Related Federal Cases
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons