Federal prosecutors say a Columbus man quietly helped arm buyers in other states, and now he has admitted it in court.
Justin Johnson pleaded guilty Friday in federal court after acknowledging he provided firearms that were later sold out of state, according to authorities. Prosecutors say the weapons ended up in the hands of buyers in West Virginia and Tennessee, and investigators recovered multiple firearms from Johnson’s home.
As reported by 10TV, which cited a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, Johnson was indicted on three federal counts and admitted in a plea agreement that he supplied guns to intermediaries who then trafficked them across state lines. The U.S. Attorney’s Office handled the prosecution in federal court in Columbus.
Prosecutors Say Guns Flowed To West Virginia And Tennessee
Federal law generally bars private transfers of firearms across state lines and criminalizes selling guns to prohibited persons, the Department of Justice explains. That guide notes many of the statutes prosecutors rely on carry maximum prison terms of up to 10 years, depending on the specific offense.
What Johnson Faces
Under the plea, Johnson faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison on each count, according to 10TV. The plea agreement and indictment will be part of the court record when a federal judge sets his sentence.
Johnson will be sentenced by a federal judge at a later hearing, with no date yet announced. The case highlights ongoing federal efforts to cut off illegal gun trafficking routes that run across state lines.
