Phillip Carter, Jr. Firearms Trafficking, Merrillville IN, 2023

MERRILVILLE, IN – Phillip Carter, Jr., 32, of Merrillville, Indiana, is headed to federal prison for over eight years after admitting to a scheme to circumvent gun laws, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday. Carter was sentenced to 102 months imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty.

Carter wasn’t buying the guns himself. Court documents reveal he funneled cash to an accomplice in April 2021 to purchase two pistols from a licensed dealer. As a convicted felon, Carter knew he was legally barred from owning firearms. The scheme relied on the accomplice lying on federal forms to obtain the weapons for him. This wasn’t a one-time deal, either.

Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) uncovered evidence that Carter had used this tactic repeatedly, commissioning others to buy up to 24 firearms on his behalf. The scale of the operation suggests Carter wasn’t just looking for personal protection, raising questions about where those weapons ultimately ended up.

Carter’s criminal history is extensive, including prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm – crimes that explicitly prohibit him from owning or possessing any weapons. Prosecutors Kimberly L. Schultz and Jerome W. McKeever successfully argued that Carter’s repeated offenses warranted a substantial prison term.

The ATF investigation was bolstered by assistance from the LaPorte County Drug Task Force and the Michigan City Police Department. Federal officials framed the case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a broader initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering cooperation between law enforcement and local communities.

The Department of Justice recently relaunched the PSN program with a renewed focus on building trust within communities, supporting preventative violence programs, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and rigorously measuring outcomes. While the program’s effectiveness remains debated, authorities hope this sentence sends a clear message: those who attempt to skirt gun laws will face serious consequences.

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