CINCINNATI, OH – Zephaniah Jones, 21, of Cincinnati, has confessed to masterminding a brazen firearms conspiracy that flooded the streets with at least 37 illegally obtained guns. Jones pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a litany of federal charges, including conspiracy to make false statements on federal firearms forms and aggravated identity theft, alongside a separate scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration.
Between April and July of 2022, Jones and his crew attempted to purchase 56 firearms online from retailers like Guns.com using stolen credit card information. The operation wasn’t about personal collection; it was a wholesale effort to arm criminals. The firearms, unable to be shipped directly to Jones or his co-conspirators, were routed through local Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs). There, accomplices falsely claimed to be the actual buyers, signing ATF Form 4473s under false pretenses.
The scale of the operation is staggering. Within a two-month span, Jones racked up over $15,000 in fraudulent purchases using the stolen financial details of multiple victims. He wasn’t grabbing a pistol here and there. Jones specifically targeted high-demand models, amassing at least 14 Glock pistols, 11 F.N. Five-Seven pistols, and six FN 509 pistols – clearly intending to profit from reselling the weapons on the black market.
The consequences of Jones’s actions were swift and deadly. Authorities have traced firearms linked to the conspiracy to multiple violent crimes in Columbus, Ohio. Just 15 days after one pistol was purchased, it was used to shoot into an occupied residence. That same weapon later surfaced in a separate shots-fired incident and a felonious assault. Another pistol ended up in the hands of a juvenile less than three months after the purchase, connected to yet another shooting. This wasn’t just about guns; it was about fueling violence.
The scheme extended beyond illegal gun trafficking. In February 2020, Jones fraudulently applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, falsely claiming to own a business called Jones Lawncare LLC. He secured nearly $21,000 in COVID-relief funds, which were later forgiven – adding insult to injury for taxpayers and law enforcement.
Federal prosecutors are recommending a substantial 79-month prison sentence for Jones. Five additional co-conspirators have also been federally charged in connection with the straw-purchasing scheme. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Cincinnati Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker and ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl S. McCormick announced the guilty plea before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie D. Garcia is prosecuting the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Mark Thompson, Wire Fraud and Conspiracy, New York NY, 2023 · Ohio
- Theryn Jones, Financial Misconduct, New York NY, 2023 · Ohio
- Uda Hidalgo Pleads Guilty to Rico Conspiracy, Buffalo NY, 2023 · Ohio
- Efrain Hildalgo, RICO Conspiracy and Murder, Buffalo NY, 2023 · Ohio
- Raul Anchondo, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Seat… · Ohio
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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