But the tech company later confirmed that Rittenhouse had not been a follower of the flagged page. A lock ( 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Ritchie will also serve extended supervision after his release. Straw Purchase Law and Legal Definition. 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. Black is now being prosecuted for participating in the illegal straw purchase of the weapon on behalf of Rittenhouse. Every cowboy needs a revolver. I ask myself that question every day," she told the outlet. But as Rittenhouse testified, the teenager drove himself to Kenosha ahead of the protests. Charges were also filed against Callie Bender for two counts of straw purchase of a firearm, one count of aiding a felon and one count of possession of THC. He was acquitted on all counts. 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. The statement signed by 10 Senate Republicans indicates the legislation has a good chance of avoiding a legislative filibuster, the 60-vote threshold required for most bills. Ashley Zastrow, 32, from Merrill, purchased two firearms in Wisconsin Rapids on Jan. 13, 2022. Thats why tougher laws on straw purchases are a priority for gun control groups. Circumstantial vs. Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. In order to complete the purchase of these firearms, she represented that she was the actual buyer of these firearms when in fact she was not. 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. Should I Move Out of My Home During My Divorce? The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. A straw purchase typically involves one person buying a gun for someone else, usually because the other person cannot pass a background check or does not want a record of the purchase in their name. The gun seller can also be held liable under 18 U.S.C. Thanks to Governor Walker, prosecutors should be able to make gun charges stick and get dangerous criminals off the streets.. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Western Division CHICAGO Two men have been indicted on federal firearm charges for conspiring to straw purchase 19 handguns in Wisconsin and re-sell them in Chicago. 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. Just hours before the protests, Rosenbaum had been released from a hospital following psychiatric care for a suicide attempt. 219 S. Dearborn St., 5th Floor The civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Blake family, falsely described Rittenhouse on Friday as a "self-declared white nationalist." Kyle Ritchie was found guilty of buying four guns from a licensed dealer in Wausau last year by representing himself as the actual buyer. During sentencing, Judge William M. Conley said that she made a 'disastrous' choice to transfer firearms to a felon and he could not ignore that it allegedly contributed to a woman's death. Therefore, if you are being charged with making a straw purchase of a firearm, it is very important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side from the very beginning. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider We are tired of t. CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Wisconsin man is charged with providing the gun to teenager Kyle Rittenhouse who then allegedly killed two men during the unrest in late August. Call us at 414-271-1440 or send us an e-mail today to discuss your case. The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force, Wisconsin DOJ- Division of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI. Stay in the know. Straw purchasing is when someone buys a gun for another person who isn't legally allowed to own one, such as felons. A popular rumor that spread following the August 2020 shootings was the idea that Rittenhouse's mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, drove her teenaged son to the protests. Who Can Be Held Liable for Winter Truck Accidents. 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. Straw purchasers and firearm traffickers enable unlawful possession of guns and the violence that may follow, said John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Since then, a number of straw buyers have faced a mandatory five-year minimum sentence under its guidelines. If they ask you to buy it, fill out the 4473 in your name, and then pay you . I have no answer. Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates. Someone makes a straw purchase when they purchase a gun on behalf of someone else who may not be . 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U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC), Two Men Indicted in Scheme to Straw Purchase Firearms in Wisconsin and Re-Sell Them in Chicago, Federal Judge Sentences Rockford Man to More Than Five Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearm in Rockford, Federal Inmate Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Assaulting Federal Correctional Officer, Chicago Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Setting Fire to Cell Phone Store, Two Men Indicted In Scheme To Straw Purchase Firearms In Wisconsin and Re Sell Them In Chicago. The bill, SB 408, was among 41 signed by. Dept. A "straw" purchase is a firearm purchase when one person buys the firearm with the intent of giving the gun to another person for their primary use. Home Press Releases Dept. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives provided assistance. Gifting vs Straw Purchasing. In sentencing Zastrow, Judge 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. During the investigation, law enforcement utilized ATFs National Integrated Ballistic Information Network. A "Kenosha Guard" militia group on Facebook did issue a "call to arms" ahead of the violenceon August 25. 941.2905 Straw purchasing of firearms. Who Is Liable When a Person Is Hit by a Car in Front of a Store? 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. If you were arrested or charged with a crime in connection to an alleged straw purchase, we can help. May 19, 2018: Valentine purchased two handguns from a dealer at Bob and Roccos Gun Show in Onalaska, Wisc. Every time the left tries to harm innocent law abiding citizens, it runs the risk of conservative Americans lashing out. Straw purchases are deemed a federal crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. According to a press release form the Western District of Wisconsin U.S. Department of Justice: An investigation by law enforcement revealed that Zastrow purchased these firearms for someone who accompanied her to the store and provided her with cash at the time of purchase. Rocha was arrested in Wisconsin on Aug. 9, 2019. Rittenhouse's defense attorneys characterized Rosenbaum as a "rioter," and even the lead prosecutor said in his closing statement he would have prosecuted Rosenbaum for arson had he not been fatally shot. "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. 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. The offense is known as a 'straw purchase.' The person that Zastrow bought the firearms for was a convicted felon. 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. Court documents showed the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 rifle was purchased by Black on May 1 at Ladysmith Ace . To complete the purchase,she represented that she was the actual buyer of these firearms when in fact she was not. 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. Lock This is not giving a gift. An official website of the United States government. This is known as a "straw purchase" and is a crime. Rockford, IL 61101, Chicago: (312) 353-5300 The motives of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, were less clear that night. Your intent is to act as the agent. 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 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. (2) The prohibition in sub. U.S. Attorney Lausch announced the charges along with Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI, and Eddie Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. An investigation by law enforcement revealed that she purchased these firearms for an individual who accompanied her to the store and provided her with cash at the time of purchase. FOND DU LAC, Wis. - Attorney General Josh Kaul today announced that criminal charges have been filed against Denell Logan for first degree intentional homicide, felon in passion of a firearm, repeater, and possession of THC, repeater. 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 PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence. This crime is being prosecuted more vigorously as of late, and comes with a potential for a very long prison sentence. Giving someone a firearm carries a certain level of legal responsibility that does not come with gifting iPads or socks. On January 13, 2022, Zastrow purchased two firearms in Wisconsin Rapids. "Straw purchasing a firearm is a federal crime with serious consequences," said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday during his arraignment in federal court in Chicago before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes. Who Can't Buy a Gun in Wisconsin? Judge William Conley said Ritchie knew he was purchasing guns for a known drug dealer, which warranted a prison sentence even though he has no prior sentences on his record. Ashley Zastrow, 32, purchased two firearms in Wisconsin Rapids on Jan. 13, 2022. It is legal to purchase a firearm as a gift for another, since you are actually buying the firearm for yourself to gift to another. The gun was already being stored at a friend's house in Kenosha, according to police records and court testimony. All Rights Reserved, Gov. Section 18 U.S.C. In addition, the measure carries a mandatory minimum of four years in prison for repeat offenders involved in firearm-related crime if they are charged with three subsequent misdemeanors or one felony within a five-year period. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Lausch and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, including by prosecuting individuals who illegally purchase firearms. While straw buying is primarily prosecuted on the federal level, Wisconsin is not the first state to recently adopt their own statutes on the crime. A straw purchase, as defined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, involves someone who purchases a gun for someone who is prohibited by law from possessing one or for someone who does not want their name associated with the transaction. It is this intent that matters. 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. . as well as other partner offers and accept our. His legal team said Rittenhouse did not know who the men were or what group they were affiliated with and was unfamiliar with the hand symbol's meaning. 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. The person that Zastrow bought the firearms for was a convicted felon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted this case. Dominick Black, who purchased the AR-15 rifle carried and used by Kyle Rittenhouse during the protests in Kenosha last August, could walk out of court a free man later today without any criminal. In states where there is no specific law prohibiting a straw purchase, the federal law will apply. May 19, 2018: Valentine purchased seven handguns from a dealer at Bob and Roccos Gun Show in Onalaska, Wisc. It is classified as a serious crime in Illinois (Class 2 felony), but police rarely. This offense is known as a straw purchase. The person Zastrow provided the firearms is prohibited by law from possessing firearms as a result of previous felony convictions and allegedly used one of the firearms purchased by Zastrow to commit a homicide. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's The individual is also accused of using one of the weapons to commit a homicide. without the transfer creating a "straw purchase". Rocha was ordered to remain in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Sept. 10, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. Valentine self-surrendered to the Court on Aug. 5, 2019. During a trip to Black's family's hunting property in May 2020, Black agreed to buy a rifle for Rittenhouse, who was 17 and couldn't lawfully buy or possess one. 20 Colorado for Pac-12 title berth, Olympic ticket sales for Paris Games gets off to rocky start. However, you should beware of what is known as a straw purchase, which is illegal. The 5-4 ruling allows strict enforcement of the federal ban on gun "straw purchases," or one person buying a . 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 . The backers of the proposal, which passed the legislature on a voice vote, say the move was requested by the Milwaukee Police Department.