A Columbus man has admitted in federal court to running a straw-purchasing scheme that prosecutors say moved more than 20 guns bought in Ohio into the hands of alleged criminals in other states. Authorities say the purchases happened between 2021 and 2023 and that several of the weapons were later recovered outside Ohio.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio, 33-year-old Delonte Robertson, a previously convicted felon, pleaded guilty on June 11 to conspiring to make false statements during firearms purchases, making false statements in the acquisition of a firearm, and transferring firearms in interstate commerce. He entered the plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King and will be sentenced at a later hearing.
How prosecutors say the scheme worked
Court filings describe Robertson recruiting women with no criminal records to buy guns in Ohio, then turning the weapons over to him for resale or transfer, prosecutors allege. Local reporting that reviewed those court records says Robertson’s transaction history included multiple Glock 22s, Smith & Wesson pistols, a Glock 27, and an AM-15 rifle, according to NBC4/WCMH.
Weapons traced to other jurisdictions
Federal investigators recovered more than 20 firearms purchased in Ohio as part of the alleged conspiracy in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, officials say. The case was announced with participation from the ATF’s Columbus Field Division and federal prosecutors. For related enforcement notices, see ATF press releases.
Penalty and next steps
Making false statements during the acquisition of a firearm carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, while conspiring to make false statements and transferring firearms across state lines each carry potential penalties of up to five years, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio. Sentencing will be determined by the court after review of the advisory guidelines and other statutory factors.
Local enforcement context
Federal prosecutors in Columbus have recently pursued several straw-purchase and gun-trafficking cases. One earlier prosecution resulted in a six-year sentence for a different ringleader, see Hoodline's reporting on that case: Columbus Man Sentenced to Six Years.
