Man Indicted for Allegedly Straw Purchasing 27 Handguns From Stores in the Chicago Suburbs | USAO-NDIL

CHICAGO — A man has been indicted on federal firearm expenses for allegedly straw getting 27 handguns from suppliers in the Chicago suburbs.

MATTHEW JAMAAL JOHNSON obtained the handguns in 2020 and 2021 from licensed firearms sellers in Oak Forest, Unwell., Mokena, Ill., Hodgkins, Ill., and Lansing, Sick., and falsely accredited on federal kinds that he was the true purchaser, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday in U.S. District Courtroom in Chicago.  In reality, Johnson obtained the guns on behalf of yet another individual, the rates allege.

Johnson, 34, of Dolton, Sick., is charged with 12 counts of building a untrue and fictitious assertion in relationship with the acquisition of a firearm.  Johnson was arrested Tuesday.  He pleaded not guilty for the duration of his arraignment Tuesday afternoon in federal courtroom in Chicago.  A detention listening to is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2022, in advance of U.S. Magistrate Choose Maria Valdez.

The indictment was declared by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Lawyer for the Northern District of Illinois and Kristen de Tineo, Particular Agent-in-Demand of the Chicago Discipline Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcoholic beverages, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The Chicago Law enforcement Division provided useful assistance.  The govt is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Steindorf.

Disrupting unlawful firearms trafficking is a centerpiece of the Section of Justice’s cross-jurisdictional strike force aimed at cutting down gun violence.  As element of the Chicago firearms trafficking strike force, the U.S. Attorney’s Place of work collaborates with ATF, the Chicago Police Section, and other federal, point out, and community regulation enforcement associates in the Northern District of Illinois and throughout the region to enable stem the supply of illegally trafficked firearms and establish patterns, sales opportunities, and likely suspects in violent gun crimes.

“Straw purchasers put guns in the mistaken palms,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch.  “Our place of work will continue to use federal legal guidelines to prosecute straw purchasers and maintain them accountable for trafficking illegally obtained firearms.”

“Straw purchasers perform a grave position in enabling the unlawful possession of guns and the violence that follows,” stated ATF SAC de Tineo.  “Our brokers are committed to functioning with our regulation enforcement associates and prosecutors to stop the movement of guns to people today who are not able to legally order them.”

The general public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed harmless and entitled to a fair demo at which the govt has the load of proving guilt further than a realistic question. 

Every single count in the indictment is punishable by a maximum sentence of ten decades in federal prison.  If convicted, the Courtroom should impose a acceptable sentence underneath federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Pointers.