Jonathon P. Shappy Admits Gun Lie Scheme

Jonathon P. Shappy, 29, of Schuyler Falls, New York, admitted in federal court yesterday to orchestrating a gun purchase fraud after being denied the right to buy a rifle. Shappy pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the making of a false statement during the acquisition of a Henry Repeating Arms .22 caliber rifle—an act that bypassed federal background checks and triggered a criminal investigation.

The scheme unfolded on March 6, 2016, when Shappy was rejected during a routine firearms background check at a Plattsburgh gun dealer. Rather than walk away, he picked up the phone and called his uncle, Donald J. Shappy, Jr., asking him to buy the weapon on his behalf. The request wasn’t casual—it was a calculated move to circumvent the law.

The next day, March 7, 2016, Donald Shappy followed through. He walked into the same store, purchased the rifle, and signed federal paperwork certifying he was the actual buyer. He wasn’t. That lie, sworn under federal law, made both men liable for prosecution. Donald Shappy already pleaded guilty on August 4, 2016, to making a false statement during a firearm purchase and awaits sentencing on December 1, 2016.

Jonathon Shappy now faces the same courtroom reckoning. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino on March 13, 2017. His crime carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. The final sentence will hinge on federal guidelines, the severity of the offense, and judicial discretion.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the New York State Police—a joint effort to track illegal firearm transfers that slip through legal cracks. Authorities stress that straw purchases, even for low-caliber rifles, undermine public safety and federal gun control measures.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer is prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian, ATF Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict, and New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II confirmed the charges, underscoring that attempts to game the system will be met with full federal force. For Jonathon P. Shappy, the trigger has already been pulled—now comes the sentence.