A Des Moines woman was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in a firearms trafficking ring.
Tonnyia Barae Bruce, 34, of Des Moines, was found guilty of six counts of unlawful disposition of a firearm. According to court documents, Bruce purchased nine firearms at the direction of her boyfriend, Nikko Alejandro Gatewood, a convicted felon, from at least August 2017 through July 2018. Gatewood then sold these guns on the street.
At least one of the guns sold was later recovered after it was used in connection with a drug trafficking offense. Bruce was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following her prison term and to pay $600 to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Des Moines Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office-Southern District of Iowa.
Bruce pleaded guilty to the charges on November 15, 2018. She was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger on April 12, 2019.
Bruce’s boyfriend, Nikko Alejandro Gatewood, was also sentenced to 100 months in prison for seven counts of felon in possession of a firearm. Gatewood was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay $700 to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund. Gatewood pleaded guilty to the charges on November 20, 2018.
The sentences handed down in this case are a reminder of the serious consequences of firearms trafficking. The Des Moines Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will continue to work together to combat this type of crime and keep our community safe.
Tonnyia Barae Bruce, of Des Moines, Iowa, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for six counts of unlawful disposition of a firearm. The crime occurred between August 2017 and July 2018. Her boyfriend, Nikko Alejandro Gatewood, was sentenced to 100 months in prison for seven counts of felon in possession of a firearm.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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