Indianapolis man sentenced for illegal gun trafficking scheme
Indianapolis, Indiana – DeAngelo Carnell, a 24-year-old Indianapolis resident, has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for his involvement in a “straw purchase” scheme.
Carnell pled guilty to six counts of making false statements to acquire firearms and one count of dealing in firearms without a federal license.
Court documents revealed that Carnell purchased nineteen firearms from various gun retailers in the Indianapolis area over the course of six transactions in just 40 days. He falsely claimed that he was purchasing the firearms for himself, when in reality, he was buying them for others who were prohibited from buying or possessing guns.
Carnell used Instagram to find buyers for the weapons, charging a $50 fee for each transaction to the ineligible buyer.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division.
Myers emphasized the importance of stopping the flow of crime guns at their source to reduce the violence that is plaguing too many neighborhoods. He stated that this prosecution demonstrates that the government will work tirelessly to identify and hold accountable those involved in illegal gun trafficking.
Carnell’s conviction serves as a reminder that such crimes will not be tolerated and that the legal consequences for such actions can be severe.
