A Philadelphia man has been slapped with a 90-month prison sentence after a spree of illegal firearms trafficking. Aaron Douglas, 31, will also face three years of supervised release following his stint behind bars, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Charged with distributing three semi-automatic handguns between January and April of this year, Douglas made his mark on the streets of Philadelphia, but not in a way the community could ever celebrate. As convicted in 2015 for a firearm possession felony, Douglas had no business handling any guns, let alone being caught with a .45 caliber Glock at his North Philly pad by the FBI. As reported on April 23 by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the sentence aims to take a bite out of the illegal gun trade ravaging the city.
"Every illegal gun taken off the street is a small victory in our fight against violent crime," said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, recognizing the sentencing as a step forward for Philly. The firearms in question include a 9mm Smith & Wesson, Beretta, and a Glock Model 47. Douglas's latest exploit, a fourth weapon—a .45 caliber Glock Model 30—was discovered unlawfully in his residence.
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Philadelphia, Wayne A. Jacobs, emphasized the significance of the sentencing, stating, "Today’s sentencing is one more step toward keeping illegally bought and resold weapons off the streets." This crackdown is a part of a larger initiative, Project Safe Neighborhoods, aiming to knit tighter community ties and slash violent crime rates. The collaborative effort involves the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which led the investigation into Douglas's dealings with Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Miller spearheading the prosecution, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
A combined force of the FBI and ATF worked together to snuff out Douglas's contribution to the wave of violence. "This case is another example of our cooperation with our law enforcement partners to keep guns out of the hands of felons and dangerous criminals," ATF Philadelphia Field Division's Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree said in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
