Jadden I. Bedell, Gun Trafficking, Ohio 2022

COLUMBUS, OH – A network of six men is facing federal prison time after pleading guilty to a sprawling gun trafficking operation that flooded the streets of Ohio and New York with over 100 firearms. The ring, busted by the ATF, illegally sourced weapons and resold them at inflated prices, some of which later surfaced at crime scenes, according to court documents.

The final defendant, Jadden I. Bedell, 21, of Cleveland, admitted his role in the conspiracy today, bringing the total number of guilty pleas to six. The operation ran from January to May 2022, with the defendants operating without a federal firearms license. Investigators traced 114 guns back to the group, many ending up in Cleveland and Rochester, New York.

The scheme hinged on Brian R. Cunningham, 43, of Marysville, Ohio, and Tyson Rathburn, 47, of Ashville, Ohio, who allegedly purchased firearms from licensed dealers – including Frazier Firearms LLC, George Washingtons LLC, and Rural King – sometimes using straw purchasers. They then listed the weapons online, marking up the prices for profit. The pair served as the primary source, supplying firearms to four co-conspirators who traveled from Cleveland to Columbus to make the purchases.

Among those making the trips were Charles L. Jackson, 28, of Rochester, New York, and Anthony D. Redmond, 59, of Cleveland. Both men were already prohibited from possessing firearms – Jackson due to prior felony convictions, Redmond currently under indictment for felony crimes. The group frequently met at gas stations and stores in the Southern District of Ohio to finalize the transactions. On March 19, 2022, Bedell and Jackson reportedly paid Rathburn $14,000 for 42 firearms near a Marengo, Ohio gas station.

The operation was far from subtle. In May 2022, Bedell, Jackson, and Martino D. Lorenzi, 35, of Cleveland, even attempted to purchase 16 firearms from an undercover ATF agent. All six defendants have now pleaded guilty to conspiring to deal in firearms without a license, a federal crime carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Jackson has already been sentenced to 51 months. His five co-defendants – Bedell, Cunningham, Rathburn, Redmond, and Lorenzi – await sentencing.

“This case underscores the danger posed by illegal gun trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “We will continue to work with the ATF to dismantle these networks and hold those responsible accountable.” Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Columbus Field Division, echoed that sentiment. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah R. Litton and S. Courter Shimeall.

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