Jaylin Banks, Making False Statement on Firearm Purchase, Pennsylvania 2021

A disturbing case of gun violence has come to light in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where a local resident has admitted to lying on a federal firearms purchase form.

According to the United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung, Jaylin Banks, a 34-year-old resident of the City’s Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood, pleaded guilty to making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm.

On November 22, 2021, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police recovered two firearms at the scene of a shooting. An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) led to a straw purchase investigation into Banks, following the recovery of multiple firearms in the possession of others.

As part of the investigation, the ATF flagged Banks’ identifiers so that in the event he attempted to purchase another firearm, the federal firearm licensee would notify the ATF. On November 23, 2021, a federal firearm licensee notified the ATF that Banks was attempting to purchase a firearm at its store in Monroeville, PA.

Agents with the ATF and a Pittsburgh Police detective traveled to the federal firearm licensee to interview Banks. During the interview, Banks admitted to buying a firearm for another person. Banks recalled that the individual drove Banks to Dunham’s Sports in Monroeville, PA, provided Banks cash, and identified for Banks the specific handgun that he wanted.

Banks admitted to falsely stating at the time of the purchase that Banks was the actual purchaser of the firearm. Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand scheduled sentencing for February 16, 2023.

The law provides for a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, and/or a special assessment of $100. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court continued Banks on bond. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jaylin Banks.

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