Canadian national Sourivahn Phonthepsone has been sentenced to over seven years in prison for his role in a scheme to smuggle 50 firearms into Canada from the United States. Describing the severity of the crime, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan emphasized the risks presented by firearm traffickers to communities on a global scale. "We remain resolute in our unwavering commitment to work with our federal law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle gun trafficking operations and to prosecute those who jeopardize the safety of our communities by funneling firearms to criminals," Buchanan said, as the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia reported.
A successful collaboration between U.S. law enforcement led to the sentencing, with ATF Assistant Agent in Charge Alicia D. Jones hailing the arrest and conviction as a significant victory against international firearms trafficking. Attempting to transport the firearms over a three-month period in 2023, Phonthepsone had agreed to pay $800 per firearm, which he estimated to "resell for approximately $2,000 each in Canada," as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia. In a planned operation to safeguard the public, ATF agents ensured that the weapons never reached criminal hands.
Detailed in court documents, the operation saw Phonthepsone collaborate with multiple individuals to acquire the firearms worth $40,000 from a source in Atlanta, Georgia. The Canadian resident initiated contact with a source in the US in August 2023 about acquiring the firearms and even traveled to the US to discuss the acquisition in person. According to prosecutors, Phonthepsone met with an undercover agent posing as the source in Dallas, Texas, to finalize the gun purchases before returning to Canada.
In a consequent visit on October 6, 2023, Phonthepsone flew from Toronto to Atlanta, intent on purchasing the agreed-upon firearms. He was arrested by ATF special agents without incident after he initiated the transfer for some of the firearms at a storage unit in Fairburn, Georgia, handing over $40,000 in cash. It was there, in a storage unit, where Phonthepsone gave the undercover agent the bulk payment, according to what the investigation revealed.
On April 29, Phonthepsone pleaded guilty to the charges of firearms trafficking conspiracy, leading to his sentencing by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. He is now set for seven years and three months of incarceration, followed by three years of supervised release. Phonthepsone's sentencing is one of the first under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a legislation targeting unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms enacted by Congress and signed by the President in June 2022.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise K. Peters, who prosecuted the case, commented on the importance of this legislation in combating the illicit flow of firearms. The investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has sent a message that those who engage in gun trafficking will face serious consequences.
