Kobe Smith, Conspiracy to Illegally Transport Firearms, Massachusetts 2024

BOSTON, MA – Kobe Smith, 25, of Boston, has confessed to his role in a brazen interstate gun-running operation, bringing illegal firearms from Alabama to the streets of Massachusetts. Smith pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to illegally transport firearms before U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, who scheduled sentencing for June 12, 2024. The guilty plea closes the book on a case that began with a federal grand jury indictment in July 2022.

The operation, orchestrated with co-defendants Jahquel Pringle, Jarmori Brown, and Brandon Moore, involved smuggling at least 24 firearms from Alabama – where Moore resided – north to Boston. Smith acted as a buyer, placing orders with Moore for the weapons. Pringle and Brown took turns acting as mules, riding commercial buses south to Alabama to collect the firearms and then concealing them within their luggage for the return trip. Brown joined Pringle on the August 2020 run.

Federal investigators have already recovered at least seven of the trafficked firearms from crime scenes across Boston and surrounding communities. The ATF’s Boston Field Division, led by Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson, spearheaded the investigation, working alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. The agency has not released details on the types of firearms involved, nor the intended recipients, citing ongoing investigations.

Smith is the fourth and final defendant to admit guilt in the case. Jarmori Brown received an 18-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release in July 2023. Pringle and Moore are currently awaiting their sentencing hearings. The charge of conspiracy to illegally transport firearms carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentencing will be determined by Judge Saylor based on U.S. sentencing guidelines and applicable statutes.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy highlighted the case as a key component of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and local communities. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, preventative measures, strategic enforcement, and measurable results.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the persistent flow of illegal firearms into Massachusetts, and the lengths to which criminals will go to arm themselves. While Smith’s guilty plea brings one chapter to a close, the ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office vow to continue their efforts to stem the tide of gun violence and hold those responsible accountable. The Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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