A Kent, Washington man was sentenced to three years in prison on charges stemming from his involvement in a substantial "straw purchaser" gun trafficking operation. Dion Jamar Cooper, 33, faced the law after illegally buying and distributing over 130 firearms, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Cooper's activities drew attention after an assault and attempted robbery in January 2023 when a gun left by an assailant was traced back to a purchase he made in December 2022. This discovery by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) prompted a closer look at Cooper's buying history, revealing that he had acquired 107 firearms since June 2021. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman highlighted that "Even as Mr. Cooper has awaited sentencing, we are finding additional crime guns linked to his straw purchasing activity." Fifty-four of these guns have been connected to serious crimes ranging from armed robberies to homicides.
In the course of the investigation, surveillance operations observed Cooper securing deals for more firearms, accompanied by De’ondre Lamontia Phillips, a previously convicted individual prohibited from owning firearms. Phillips received a seven-year prison term last month for his role in storing the weapons Cooper supplied. "These recovery periods included some as short as two days and others of six days, seven days, and eight days," Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg pointed out the rapid use of these firearms in violent crimes following their purchase, per the U.S. Attorney's Office press release.
The cases of Cooper and Phillips underscore the complex challenges law enforcement faces in combatting the illegal firearm trade, which fuels crime across communities. The sentencing handed down by U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez was intended to serve as a stern warning about the severe consequences awaiting those involved in such schemes. "If people engage in straw purchasing and distribute the firearms in our community, or any community, there will be a serious consequence that follows," Martinez warned via the U.S. Department of Justice.
