Lonnel Diggs, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Maine 2022

A California man has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in a federal court in Maine.

Lonnel Diggs, 40, of Van Nuys, California, was convicted of robbery in California in 2003 and assault with a dangerous weapon on a peace officer in 2010, making him ineligible to possess any firearms.

In March 2022, Diggs and a co-conspirator proposed a scheme to a couple who purchased crack cocaine from Diggs, in which they would purchase firearms in exchange for cash and crack cocaine.

The couple agreed to make straw purchases, traveling to gun shows and gun stores in Maine on behalf of Diggs. At one of the gun shows, Diggs took photos of firearms and texted the images to the couple, who then made the purchases and provided them to him.

Diggs faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Any sentence would be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Lewiston Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence, and making neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/california-man-pleads-guilty-illegally-possessing-firearm