ELKHART, IN – A 24-year-old Elkhart man is headed to federal prison after admitting he lied to purchase firearms and then flipped them to individuals legally barred from owning guns. Latell Washington was sentenced Tuesday to nine months behind bars, followed by two years of supervised release – the first nine months of which will be served under home detention – by U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty.
The case unfolded after a handgun Washington purchased just fifteen days prior surfaced at the scene of a shooting. Investigators quickly discovered Washington wasn’t just a one-time buyer. Between October 2020 and June 2021, he’d acquired at least five firearms from local dealers. But the purchases weren’t for himself, according to court documents.
Washington confessed to falsifying the required ATF form – the one that ensures buyers are legally eligible to possess firearms. He admitted to knowingly providing false information to circumvent background checks. Even more damning, he revealed he’d sold at least four of those guns to individuals who, like him, were prohibited from making the purchase themselves. The specifics of who those individuals are remain sealed.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, with support from the South Bend Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke N. Reilander and Frank Schaffer prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on recovered evidence and Washington’s own admission of guilt. Sources within the investigation indicate the ATF has been tracking Washington’s activity for some time, suspecting a pattern of straw purchasing.
Federal officials are framing Washington’s sentencing as a win for “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and local communities. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, focusing on building trust with communities, supporting violence prevention programs, and prioritizing strategic enforcement.
While nine months is a relatively light sentence, federal prosecutors will likely tout this case as a deterrent to others considering similar schemes. The ease with which Washington acquired multiple firearms, and then diverted them into the hands of prohibited persons, highlights the ongoing challenges of gun control and the black market for weapons. The ATF’s Chicago Field Division continues to investigate related cases.
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