In order to complete the purchase of the firearms, she represented that she was the actual buyer of these firearms when she was not. Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool, NOW WATCH: VIDEO: Kyle Rittenhouse breaks down crying at his homicide trial, threw out a count of possession of a dangerous weapon, Rosenbaum had been released from a hospital, did issue a "call to arms" ahead of the violence, Rittenhouse went to a bar in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. Rittenhouse and his friend, Dominick Black, testified that Black, who was 18 at the time, used Rittenhouse's money to purchase the weapon at a Wisconsin hardware store in May 2020. WisPolitics.com & WisBusiness.com: The clean energy shift is underway: How will the Inflation Reduction Act accelerate the transition? Answer (1 of 29): This will just be another embarrassing moment for the left's ridiculous attempts to convict someone for something that was completely legal. But a GOP aide involved in the negotiations told The Hill on Sunday that the deal is an agreement on principles, not legislative text and that some of the principles could be dropped if lawmakers do not agree to a final text. According to Kyle The Answer to this is no. of Justice: Merrill woman sentenced to prison for making false statements during purchase of firearms. There are two federal statutes under which straw purchases are usually prosecuted: 18 U.S.C. People 18 years of age and older are eligible to purchase long guns, while handguns are only eligible to be purchased by those of the age 21 years and older. During this 10-day waiting period, the DOJ conducts a firearm eligibility background check to ensure the purchaser is not prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms. April 13, 2018: Valentine purchased a handgun at Big Rooster Firearms in Sparta, Wisc. You are the original buyer, yet you have no intent to own the gun. But during his trial, Rittenhouse testified in court that he drove himself from his home in Illinois to Kenosha on August 24, 2020, the day before he fatally shot two men. The civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Blake family, falsely described Rittenhouse on Friday as a "self-declared white nationalist." This prison term will be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Epic 22 Pocket Pistol: The Beretta 71 Jaguar. A straw purchase is someone intentionally avoiding a background check, a waiting period, or is too young to purchase the gun in the first place. Fighting violent crime is a top priority in our office, and we are committed to holding accountable those who engage in illicit firearm transactions.. The prosecution argued as such. Home Press Releases Dept. Circumstantial vs. The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence. This prison term will be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. That person also allegedly used one of the firearms purchased by Zastrow to commit a homicide. Your intent is to act as the agent. A "Kenosha Guard" militia group on Facebook did issue a "call to arms" ahead of the violenceon August 25. During the investigation, law enforcement utilized ATFs National Integrated Ballistic Information Network. First things first, if you have reasonable cause to believe the person you're gifting a firearm to is prohibited from possessing . . 924(a)(1)(A). Judge Conley also reasoned that a prison sentence was warranted given the defendants poor performance on pre-trial release and nominal efforts to confront her methamphetamine addiction. They're illegal, because criminals and other people who cannot pass a background check often get other people, who can pass a background check, to buy guns for them. When transferring or purchasing a firearm, individuals must complete an ATF Form 4473. -1 23 more replies MenaFWM 1 yr. ago Chicago, a much larger city but with similarly high murder rate, recovered 247 guns per 100,000 people. MADISON, WI (WSAU) A Merrill woman has been sentenced for making false statements to secure the purchase of two firearms, a practice known as a straw purchase. Ashley Zastrow will serve one year and one day in federal prison for presenting herself as the buyer of the handguns when in fact she was not. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Who Can't Buy a Gun in Wisconsin? A straw purchase occurs when somebody purchases a firearm for another person while pretending to purchase it for personal use. Graap is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. After he pleaded not guilty to the initial charges in January 2021, prosecutors said Rittenhouse went to a bar in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, where he posed for photos with members said to be of the Proud Boys while flashing a "white power" hand signal. Black said he used Rittenhouse's . Error! Every cowboy needs a revolver. The charge against Zastrow was the result of an investigation conducted bythe Lincoln County Sheriffs Office, Merrill Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Marshfield Police Department. MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O'Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ashley Zastrow, 32, Merrill, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 1 year and 1 day in federal prison for making false statements during the purchase of two firearms. MADISON, Wis. (WAOW) A 32-year-old Merrill woman was sentenced to 1, year, 1-day in federal prison on Friday formaking false statements during the purchase of two firearms. The law raises the maximum penalty for the illegal straw purchasing of guns under state law from a $10,000 fine and nine months in jail to six years in prison. Someone makes a straw purchase when they purchase a gun on behalf of someone else who may not be . Should I Move Out of My Home During My Divorce? I ask myself that question every day," she told the outlet. A jury fully acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse on Friday, bringing a close to the high-profile and often tense trial that reflected America's deep political polarization. as well as other partner offers and accept our. 327 S. Church Street, Room 3300
She was making the buyfor an individual who accompanied her to the store and provided her with cash at the time of purchase. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Urban Health that screened 149 licensed retailers in California found roughly 1 in 5 agreed to participate in a straw purchase of a handgun. In a November CNN interview, Democratic Rep. Karen Bass of California propagated the falsehood, alleging that Wendy accompanied her son over state lines so he could help law enforcement amid the unrest. May 13, 2018: Valentine purchased two handguns at Ace Hardware in La Crosse, Wisc. Gaige Grosskreutz, a then-27-year-old EMT who survived being shot by Rittenhouse, testified during the trial, telling the jury that he frequently attended demonstrations as a volunteer medic and chose not to affiliate with any particular side. On January 13, 2022, Zastrow purchased two firearms in Wisconsin Rapids. Top Ukrainian intelligence official: Russia will run out of military Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Although there are exceptions, generally all firearm purchasers must be at least 21 years of age to purchase any firearm. Rocha was arrested in Wisconsin on Aug. 9, 2019. MADISON, WIS. Timothy M. OShea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ashley Zastrow, 32, Merrill, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 1 year and 1 day in federal prison for making false statements during the purchase of two firearms. Rockford, IL 61101, Chicago: (312) 353-5300
The judge noted that the prosecution did not find any evidence of his affiliation with a white supremacist group in phone records or social media history, and as Michelle Mark previously reported, ruled the trip to the bar was not relevant to the 2020 shooting. Here is the reason. A straw purchaser can be identified as a person with a clean background who purchases firearms specifically on behalf of a person prohibited from purchasing a firearm because that prohibited person is a convicted felon, domestic violence misdemeanant, juvenile, an individual who has been adjudicated mentally ill or one who is prohibited for other In states where there is no specific law prohibiting a straw purchase, the federal law will apply. 922(a)(6) and 18 U.S.C. Dominick Black, a friend of Rittenhouse who was 18 at the time, testified earlier in the trial that Rittenhouse paid him to buy the rifle from a hardware store in Wisconsin back in May 2020. Rosenbaum's fiance told The Washington Post in 2020 that he wasn't there as a rioter or a looter. This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Departments program to reduce violent crime. The 5-4 ruling allows strict enforcement of the federal ban on gun "straw purchases," or one person buying a . A small number of states also penalize the actual buyer in straw purchases. 941.2905 Straw purchasing of firearms. 922(a)(6) prohibits any person from making false written or oral statements regarding any material fact in the sale of a firearm or ammunition to a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector of firearms. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Merrill woman sentenced to federal prison in case stemming from homicide, Our Kids in Crisis: A Mental Health Emergency, one of the guns she purchased was used in a homicide, Wisconsin legislators ask Governor Evers to remove Milwaukee County District Attorney from duties following Waukesha tragedy, A local school district hosts school-based mental health counseling retreat, Marathon Co. corrections officer awarded sheriffs office life saving medal, Wisconsin politicians react to Roe v. Wade being overturned by U.S. Supreme Court. There was a problem saving your notification. When I dress Western, nothing beats the classic good looks of my Smith & Wesson (S&W) 586 .357 revolver. Stay up to date with what you want to know. The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence. But as Rittenhouse testified, the teenager drove himself to Kenosha ahead of the protests. The Judge gave him the break of a lifetime by obfuscating two different statues. Feds say 'straw buyer' purchased 39 handguns for a felon since July, paid more than $25,000 cash to firearms dealers. It is this intent that matters. Sentencing Guidelines. First Criminal Conviction for Spoofing May Increas New Challenge to the Informing the Accused Form, Foiled Crimes: The Crime of Attempt in Wisconsin, Welfare Drug Testing and the Constitution. Earlier this week, Judge Bruce Schroeder threw out a count of possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 after Rittenhouse's defense argued the rifle was not short-barreled, capitalizing on an exception to the Wisconsin statute involving the barrel length of a gun. The recent decision against a Milwaukee gun store in the shooting of two Milwaukee police officers has brought the issue of straw purchases of firearms to the forefront. MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O'Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ashley Zastrow, 32, Merrill, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 1 year and 1 day in federal prison for making false statements during the purchase of two firearms. Rittenhouse lived about 20 minutes outside of Kenosha, in Antioch, Illinois. To complete the purchase,she represented that she was the actual buyer of these firearms when in fact she was not. MADISON, WI (WSAU) A Schofield man will serve two years in federal prison for making false statements to secure the purchase of a firearm for another man. If they ask you to buy it, fill out the 4473 in your name, and then pay you . You have permission to edit this article. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS "In sentencing Zastrow, U.S. District Judge William M. Conley stated that she made a disastrous choice to transfer firearms to a prohibited person and could not ignore the fact that this choice contributed to a womans death. This is not the same thing as purchasing a firearm as a genuine, bonafide gift. GRGB Law serves people in the greater Milwaukee area and all of SE Wisconsin, as well as Midstate Wisconsin and throughout the state, including: You do not have JavaScript enabled. But any violation of the Gun Control Act, 1968 make the . The person purchase on behalf of other when the other person is unable to purchase the item or service themselves is not considered as an illegal act. WAUSAU, Wis. (WAOW) -- A Wausau woman has been charged with making a false statement while purchasing firearms, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Have a question about Government Services? When a person buys a gun intending to later sell it to someone else, the government often prosecutes the initial buyer under 18 U.S.C. In the lawsuit, Ellison ask for "strengthened oversight of Fleet Farm's operations and increased training to prevent sales of guns to straw purchasers." The attorney general also wants Fleet Farm . Judge Conley also reasoned that a prison sentence was warranted given the defendants poor performance on pre-trial release and nominal efforts to confront her methamphetamine addiction. Wisconsin law makes it a crime to provide false information to a gun dealer with the intent to purchase a firearm and then transfer it to a person prohibited from obtaining one. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. The other hand shows a straw purchase as buying a gun and selling it directly to someone who can pass their own background check, without actually taking the background check. A straw purchase is when you purchase a firearm at the behest of another person. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Judge Conley also reasoned that a prison sentence was warranted given the defendants poor performance on pre-trial release and nominal efforts to confront her methamphetamine addiction. Even if gun dealers dont end up following through on the transaction, a survey of a random sample of 1,601 licensed dealers during the summer of 2011 found that more than two-thirds 67.3 percent had experienced attempted straw purchases. May 19, 2018: Valentine purchased seven handguns from a dealer at Bob and Roccos Gun Show in Onalaska, Wisc. The barrels under 16 inches should've only applied to 18 year old+ who were legally allowed to carry. Rosenbaum was seen in a number of videos not protesting but causing destruction, setting fires, tipping over a Porta Potty, wielding a chain, and at one point even shouting the N-word. There was a problem saving your notification. Despite the federal prohibition and state-level legislation, many gun control advocates and experts say the illegal transactions still happen regularly. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's Law enforcement agents call people who buy guns for those who aren't legally . It is a serious danger to our communities. (1) Whoever intentionally furnishes, purchases, or possesses a firearm for a person, knowing that the person is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29 (1m), is guilty of a Class G felony. Stay in the know. Valentine, 23, of La Crosse, Wisc., and Rocha, 28, are charged with conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, and unlawfully dealing and importing firearms. Purchasing firearms for people prohibited from owning them, commonly known as straw purchases, would be a felony in Wisconsin if a newly introduced bill is passed into law.