Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 24, 2007
Contact : Sue McKinney
STRAW PURCHASERS SENTENCED IN FEDERAL COURT
MACON: Maxwell Wood, United States Attorney announced that Anwar Prater, Walter Wellons and Elvis Randolph was sentenced May 23, 2007 before the Honorable C. Ashley Royal, United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia. Each Defendant was sentenced to 36 months probation.
On July 20, 2006, Wellons entered a plea of guilty to Count Two of the Indictment and, on the same day, Randolph entered a plea of guilty to Count Nine of the Indictment. On October 5, 2006, Anwar Prater entered a guilty plea to Count Eight of the Indictment. Each defendant entered guilty pleas to the offense of False Statements in the Acquisition of Firearms in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(a)(6).
Each of the Defendants had been contacted by another party to purchase firearms on that person’s behalf. Prior to the their conviction, none of the Defendant had any criminal records because if they did have a criminal record, they would not have been able to purchase the firearms. As part of the investigation, at least eight firearms that had been purchased as part of the scheme were recovered in the Washington, DC area. Each of the recovered firearms had been used in either a violent crime or drug crime in the greater Washington area.
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia Maxwell Wood stated that “while a probated sentence may not seem like a significant punishment, each of these defendants now has a felony conviction. That means they are now prohibited from obtaining employment for a multitude of jobs which is a tremendous impact on a young person just starting out in the world.”
The case as investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). The case was prosecuted by AUSA Michael Solis.
Questions concerning this case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2602.
