Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice declared that Gustavo Rodriguez, a Boston man, had pled guilty to charges associated with an illegal firearm trafficking and straw purchasing conspiracy, according to the District of Massachusetts.
From August to November 2022, Rodriguez, Cory Daigle, and Shakim Grant conspired to unlawfully purchase and sell firearms. As the U.S. Department of Justice reports, Daigle, holding a Federal Firearms License (FFL), is accused of falsifying entries in records to hide the prohibited sale of multiple firearms to Rodriguez. Daigle and Grant are suspected of giving false information to law enforcement and falsifying required paperwork to mask Rodriguez as the true purchaser of the weapons.
While Rodriguez, having pled guilty, awaits sentencing on February 5, 2024, Grant has also admitted guilt and is set for sentencing on December 18. Daigle, however, pleads not guilty with a yet-to-be-scheduled trial.
Straw purchasing, the method of procuring a firearm for someone else who is legally unable to, is an unlawful avenue for individuals to obtain firearms. It ultimately results in weapons being wielded by individuals who pose potential threats.
