The orchestrator of a significant illegal firearms operation has been sentenced to six years in federal prison, marking a conclusion to a case that highlighted the insidious realities of gun trafficking in the U.S. Keith Davenport III, a 22-year-old Columbus resident, faced justice today for his role in leading a conspiracy that engaged in straw purchasing—buying guns for those prohibited from doing so.
As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio, Davenport, along with five co-conspirators, were indicted last October after falsifying federal firearms forms and using stolen credit card data to procure weapons. The scheme resulted in at the attempted purchase of over 200 firearms, with at least 42 successfully trafficked.
In addition to the gun trafficking charges, Davenport's criminal endeavors also extended to other offenses. He was caught trying to break into a post office in Medina County, implicating him in assaults against two police officers and a hospital security officer. Notably, while he was on bond for the instant case, Davenport faced a domestic violence and assault charge, leading the court to revoke his bond.
Investigations revealed one of the firearms from the trafficking operation at the site of a narcotics search by Columbus police, while another was discovered during a traffic stop on a person illegally in the country. These findings demonstrate the tangible risks such operations pose to community safety.
Davenport pleaded guilty this past April to both the firearms conspiracy and aggravated identity fraud—a decision that undoubtedly weighed into his sentencing. The outcome was announced by Dominick S. Gerace, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, alongside officials from the ATF and Columbus Police. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison handed down the sentence as the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys S. Courter Shimeall and Damoun Delaviz.
