Columbus, Ohio – A brazen leader of a large-scale gun trafficking operation has been brought to justice, sentenced to 72 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy that saw at least 42 guns transferred illegally.
The mastermind behind the operation, Keith Davenport III, 22, of Columbus, was convicted in April 2025 of conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by making false statements on federal firearms forms.
At the direction of Davenport, he and five others conspired to use stolen credit card information to place orders online for straw purchases of firearms. The scheme involved recruiting straw purchasers and arranging for the re-sale of the firearms on the black market.
The operation was massive, with the conspirators attempting to purchase over 200 firearms, though law enforcement was able to intercept at least one gun during a narcotics trafficking search warrant in Columbus.
The investigation, led by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Columbus Police Department, revealed that Davenport and his co-conspirators had obtained stolen credit card information to fund their operation.
The defendant’s troubles don’t stop there, as he also faces charges in Medina County, Ohio, for attempting to break into a post office, assaulting two police officers and a hospital security officer.
While out on bond for the gun trafficking case, Davenport was charged with domestic violence and assault, leading the court to revoke his bond.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Dominick S. Gerace, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF, John Smerglia, announced Davenport’s sentence, which was handed down by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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