Jermine T Prosper, Gun Smuggling, GA 2015

Jermine T. Prosper, 39, of Conyers, Georgia, is headed to federal prison for five years after admitting to smuggling more than 50 firearms from Atlanta to Guyana between October 2013 and November 2015. Prosecutors say Prosper, a lawful permanent U.S. resident, legally bought the weapons from two federally licensed dealers—34 nine millimeter pistols, eight .380 caliber pistols, and six .25 caliber pistols—only to hide them in shipping barrels and funnel them overseas for street sale.

U.S. Attorney John Horn didn’t mince words: “Prosper smuggled the firearms he purchased in Atlanta to his home country of Guyana, knowing that those weapons would be sold on the streets. His greed mattered more than the danger these firearms posed to the citizens of Guyana.” The sentence, handed down February 2, 2017, includes three years of supervised release following prison and marks a win in the federal crackdown on illegal firearms export.

In early 2016, Prosper doubled down—selling multiple firearms to another Guyanese national planning to ship guns back home. Because of his prior success smuggling weapons, Prosper offered to handle the shipment. During their final deal in April 2016, he sold four more guns—and deliberately obliterated their serial numbers to cover his tracks. That move sealed his fate with investigators.

“Criminals must understand that there are serious repercussions for illegal trafficking of firearms,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Wayne Dixie. “ATF and our law enforcement partners will contribute all necessary time and effort to ensure that these criminals are brought to justice.” The case underscored a growing federal focus on export-linked gun trafficking that fuels violence abroad.

ICE Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Nick S. Annan emphasized the transnational threat: “Identifying and stopping the illegal exportation of weapons is one of HSI’s highest priorities to stem the flow of violence by criminal networks.” He praised the joint work between HSI and ATF, calling it a model for future operations targeting global arms smuggling.

Prosper pleaded guilty to violating Title 18, United States Code, §§ 922(a)(1)(A) and 923(a), and Title 18, United States Code, § 924(a)(1)(A). The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracia M. King and Phyllis Clerk prosecuted. For more, contact USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.