Jerreil LaMounta Martin, Gun Trafficking, Michigan 2023

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Jerreil LaMounta Martin, a Grand Rapids resident, is headed to federal prison for 37 months after admitting to running a prolific gun trafficking operation. The scheme flooded Michigan streets with over 40 firearms, several of which surfaced at crime scenes, including one connected to the senseless killing of a 2-year-old child.

U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced the sentencing today, detailing how Martin profited by acting as a “straw purchaser.” For a fee of $50 to $100 per firearm, Martin illegally purchased guns for individuals prohibited from owning them – convicted felons – falsely claiming the weapons were for his own use. He knowingly supplied a black market fueled by desperation and violence, all for a quick buck. Judge Robert J. Jonker also sentenced Martin to 3 years of supervised release following his incarceration.

The impact of Martin’s actions extends far beyond statistics. A Glock 9mm purchased by Martin on April 22, 2021, was used in a drive-by shooting in Flint, wounding an 11-year-old girl. Another Glock 9mm from the same date was linked to a Flint homicide. These weren’t isolated incidents. The trail of destruction woven by Martin’s firearms paints a grim picture of rising violence across Michigan cities.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking connection is to the death of a 2-year-old in Wyoming, Michigan, on February 9, 2022. A Ruger 5.7 x 28 mm semi-automatic pistol, purchased by Martin on September 4, 2021, was the weapon used in the tragic killing. The victim’s father, Seninta Parks, faces charges in the case. In Grand Rapids, a Glock .45 caliber pistol purchased by Martin on September 7, 2021, was used in a shooting on the Blue Bridge, injuring four people – and had been fired in two prior shootings. Another Glock 9 mm purchased on the same day was used in three separate drive-by shootings in Grand Rapids over just two months.

Even after being informed by investigators that one of his trafficked weapons had been used to kill a child, Martin remained undeterred. He attempted to straw purchase another firearm for a convicted felon, sealing his fate. Law enforcement swiftly intervened, arresting Martin and leading to the charges that ultimately resulted in his conviction by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. “Straw purchasing and gun trafficking drive a dangerous black market for firearms,” Totten stated. “These crimes feed the violence that plague communities across Michigan.”

While authorities have recovered fourteen of the firearms Martin trafficked, the whereabouts of the remaining weapons remain unknown, a chilling reminder of the potential for further violence. The case serves as a stark warning: those who profit from supplying the tools of destruction will be held accountable, but the damage they inflict can ripple through communities for years to come.

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