Giving someone a firearm carries a certain level of legal responsibility that does not come with gifting iPads or socks. She was making the buyfor an individual who accompanied her to the store and provided her with cash at the time of purchase. 327 S. Church Street, Room 3300 The bill, SB 408, was among 41 signed by the Republican without comment this week. Here is the reason. Straw buying is a felony in progressive Connecticut, albeit one in the second-least-serious order of felonies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted this case. The charges Zastrow faced stemmed from one of the guns she purchased was used in a homicide. His Illinois residence helped spur rumors that the teenager traveled to Wisconsin with his rifle illegally in tow. During the investigation, law enforcement utilized ATFs National Integrated Ballistic Information Network. NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. Zastrow's prison term will be followed by a 3-year stint on supervised release. Just hours before the protests, Rosenbaum had been released from a hospital following psychiatric care for a suicide attempt. Wisconsin law makes it a crime to provide false information to a gun dealer with the intent to purchase a firearm and then transfer it to a person prohibited from obtaining one. His legal team said Rittenhouse did not know who the men were or what group they were affiliated with and was unfamiliar with the hand symbol's meaning. Federally licensed firearm dealers are required to perform background checks for those seeking to buy a firearm. MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O'Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ashley Zastrow, 32, Merrill, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 1 year and 1 day in federal prison for making false statements during the purchase of two firearms. Gun Shows. A small number of states also penalize the actual buyer in straw purchases. The criminal case against the 19-year-old who allegedly made the straw purchase that provided Kyle Rittenhouse his gun has been put on . Purchasing firearms for people prohibited from owning them, commonly known as straw purchases, would be a felony in Wisconsin if a newly introduced bill is passed into law. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. But a GOP aide involved in the negotiations told The Hill on Sunday that the deal is an agreement on principles, not legislative text and that some of the principles could be dropped if lawmakers do not agree to a final text. A straw purchase or nominee purchase is any purchase wherein an agent agrees to acquire a good or service for someone who is often unable or unwilling to purchase the good or service themselves, and the agent transfers the goods or services to that person after purchasing them. U.S. Attorney Lausch announced the charges along with Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI, and Eddie Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. But Rittenhouse has never publicly identified as a member of any extremist group. With other recent changes in the law, straw purchases, and people charged with other gun crimes, now face severe criminal penalties. Here's what it's like to shoot this classic scattergun. The two reportedly agreed that Black would keep the gun until Rittenhouse turned 18 in January 2021, according to court testimony. A judge ordered the release Wednesday of the Indiana man charged by the feds with acting as the so-called straw purchaser of the gun that killed Chicago Police Officer Ella French and drew the ire of the city's top cop. The person that Zastrow bought the firearms for was a convicted felon. Editor's note: This story has been corrected to make clear in graf 18 that Jacob Blake was shot and he survived. Rocha was ordered to remain in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Sept. 10, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. Valentine self-surrendered to the Court on Aug. 5, 2019. Please call us today at (972) 369-0577 to schedule a . The agreement follows days of closed-door talks after a string of high-profile mass shootings, including at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and a supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y. Direct Evidence in Wisconsin Criminal Cases. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. In the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Lausch and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, including by prosecuting individuals who illegally purchase firearms. Should I Move Out of My Home During My Divorce? THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. . Chicago, IL 60604 Chicago, a much larger city but with similarly high murder rate, recovered 247 guns per 100,000 people. First things first, if you have reasonable cause to believe the person you're gifting a firearm to is prohibited from possessing . The two reportedly agreed that Black would keep the gun until Rittenhouse turned 18 in January 2021, according to court testimony. When a bipartisan group of 20 senators announced a framework deal for gun-related legislation on Sunday, it said one point of the nine-pronged proposal cracks down on people who illegally straw purchase and traffic guns. A lock ( But Rittenhouse's possession of the firearm at the time was technically legal. Dominick Black, who purchased the AR-15 rifle carried and used by Kyle Rittenhouse during the protests in Kenosha last August, could walk out of court a free man later today without any criminal. Short answer: it depends. Kyle Rittenhouse's trial has returned again and again to the semiautomatic rifle he used to kill two men and wound a third during the unrest in Kenosha, Wis., last year. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence. MADISON, WI (WSAU) A Schofield man will serve two years in federal prison for making false statements to secure the purchase of a firearm for another man. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Wisconsin Gov. May 19, 2018: Valentine purchased seven handguns from a dealer at Bob and Roccos Gun Show in Onalaska, Wisc. Dept. Kyle Ritchie was found guilty of buying four guns from a licensed dealer in Wausau last year by representing himself as the actual buyer. This case is the latest example of the daily work police officers, federal agents and United States Attorneys are doing to safeguard communities and create a culture of accountability for gun offenders.. Seven states have laws that penalize sellers who transfer firearms to traffickers under certain circumstances, according to Giffords, a gun violence advocacy group. This offense is known as a straw purchase. The person Zastrow provided the firearms is prohibited by law from possessing firearms as a result of previous felony convictions and allegedly used one of the firearms purchased by Zastrow to commit a homicide. When I dress Western, nothing beats the classic good looks of my Smith & Wesson (S&W) 586 .357 revolver. 922(d) if the seller knew or had reason to know that the person buying the gun is a criminal or otherwise prohibited buyer. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. It is classified as a serious crime in Illinois (Class 2 felony), but police rarely. After he pleaded not guilty to the initial charges in January 2021, prosecutors said Rittenhouse went to a bar in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, where he posed for photos with members said to be of the Proud Boys while flashing a "white power" hand signal. MADISON, Wis. (WAOW) A 32-year-old Merrill woman was sentenced to 1, year, 1-day in federal prison on Friday formaking false statements during the purchase of two firearms. Authorities argued that arming prosecutors with the ability to go after those obtaining or holding firearms for those who are legally barred from having them will help cut down on gun crime in the city. But those background checks and records involve the purchaser of the firearm and not always the ultimate user of the gun. In sentencing Zastrow, Judge Conley stated that she made a disastrous choice to transfer firearms to a prohibited person and could not ignore the fact that this choice contributed to a womans death. On one hand, a straw purchase is when one person buys a gun for someone else who cannot buy one, because they cannot pass a background check. One thing is clear; whether you face federal charges or state charges, being accused of making a straw purchase can carry lengthy prison sentences and result in a felony conviction with substantial fines. Circumstantial vs. Need Help?service@guns.comCall (866)582-4867, PO Box 1131 13800 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville, MN 55337 2023Guns.com. We are tired of t. Court documents allege Rittenhouse retrieved the gun from Black's stepfather's house in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020, and that Rittenhouse and Black went together, armed, to protests in downtown . Assembly Bill 524 and its counterpart, Senate Bill 408, were introduced in August by state Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin, and Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills. Project Safe Neighborhoodsis a nationwide initiativeto reduce gun violence and violent crime in neighborhoods across the country. Any violations of these laws can result in a 10-year prison sentence and fines up to $250,000. A straw purchase is any purchase in which a second person agrees to acquire a firearm for someone else. The gun . Some other states have looser regulations that prohibit individuals from knowingly encouraging sellers to conduct those illegal firearm transfers, according to the group. CHICAGO Two men have been indicted on federal firearm charges for conspiring to straw purchase 19 handguns in Wisconsin and re-sell them in Chicago. Rittenhouse testified that he and Black went downtown because they were invited to guard the Car Source, a Kenosha car dealership, during the unrest and were under the impression they were going to be paid. The judge noted that the prosecution did not find any evidence of his affiliation with a white supremacist group in phone records or social media history, and as Michelle Mark previously reported, ruled the trip to the bar was not relevant to the 2020 shooting. Tell us what you think about the songs we play! If they ask you to buy it, fill out the 4473 in your name, and then pay you . A jury fully acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse on Friday, bringing a close to the high-profile and often tense trial that reflected America's deep political polarization. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday during his arraignment in federal court in Chicago before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes. Who Is Liable When a Person Is Hit by a Car in Front of a Store? There was an error processing your request. If you are being charged with making a straw purchase or with any other gun crime, contact our skilled Milwaukee criminal defense attorneys, who have defended many of these types of cases and are ready to defend you and protect your rights. The teenager pleaded not guilty to all five counts and testified that he acted in self-defense, saying the men he shot were attacking him. In order to complete the purchase of these firearms, she represented that she was the actual buyer of these firearms when in fact she was not. Graap will next be in court again on May 8th at 11 a.m. for a Motion hearing. Rockford: (815) 987-4444. 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This crime is being prosecuted more vigorously as of late, and comes with a potential for a very long prison sentence. Official websites use .gov According to a press release form the Western District of Wisconsin U.S. Department of Justice: An investigation by law enforcement revealed that Zastrow purchased these firearms for someone who accompanied her to the store and provided her with cash at the time of purchase. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Ashley Zastrow will serve one year and one day in federal prison for presenting herself as the buyer of the handguns when in fact she was not. In the lawsuit, Ellison ask for "strengthened oversight of Fleet Farm's operations and increased training to prevent sales of guns to straw purchasers." The attorney general also wants Fleet Farm . In Wisconsin it's illegal for any one under 18 to have any kind of dangerous weapon. Gifting vs Straw Purchasing. Straw purchasing is when someone buys a gun for another person who isn't legally allowed to own one, such as felons. How Old Do You Have to be to Buy a Gun in Wisconsin? Video of 17-year-old Kyle. GRGB Law serves people in the greater Milwaukee area and all of SE Wisconsin, as well as Midstate Wisconsin and throughout the state, including: You do not have JavaScript enabled. This is not giving a gift. You have permission to edit this article. The straw purchaser violates both of these laws by pretending to be the actual gun buyer when the purpose is to give the gun to another. Rosenbaum was seen in a number of videos not protesting but causing destruction, setting fires, tipping over a Porta Potty, wielding a chain, and at one point even shouting the N-word. Ashley Zastrow, 32, purchased two firearms in Wisconsin Rapids on Jan. 13, 2022. Straw purchases of firearms are also violations of federal law, and under both state and federal law, it is a felony that carries the potential for a long prison term. The family has a 13-acre property with an old gravel pit used as a gun range. Rittenhouse did testify that his mother drove him to a local police station to surrender following the shootings. (2) The prohibition in sub. While straw buying is primarily prosecuted on the federal level, Wisconsin is not the first state to recently adopt their own statutes on the crime. A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her. The prison term will be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. The person purchase on behalf of other when the other person is unable to purchase the item or service themselves is not considered as an illegal act. Learn how you can help drug endangered children. Black is now being prosecuted for participating in the illegal straw purchase of the weapon on behalf of Rittenhouse. The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence. Ashley Zastrow will serve one year and one day in federal prison for presenting herself as the buyer of the handguns when in fact she was not. Gaige Grosskreutz, a then-27-year-old EMT who survived being shot by Rittenhouse, testified during the trial, telling the jury that he frequently attended demonstrations as a volunteer medic and chose not to affiliate with any particular side. The Nylon 66, a relatively inexpensive rimfire with faux woodgrain, was the first successful synthetic-stock firearm. Straw purchases are deemed a federal crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Kyle gifted the money to Dominic Black to Purchase the firearm for himself then do a private sale one Kyle had turned 18. Your intent is to act as the agent. They're illegal, because criminals and other people who cannot pass a background check often get other people, who can pass a background check, to buy guns for them. When a person buys a gun intending to later sell it to someone else, the government often prosecutes the initial buyer under 18 U.S.C. Judge William Conley said Ritchie knew he was purchasing guns for a known drug dealer, which warranted a prison sentence even though he has no prior sentences on his record. Merrill woman sentenced to federal prison in case stemming from homicide, Our Kids in Crisis: A Mental Health Emergency, one of the guns she purchased was used in a homicide, Wisconsin legislators ask Governor Evers to remove Milwaukee County District Attorney from duties following Waukesha tragedy, A local school district hosts school-based mental health counseling retreat, Marathon Co. corrections officer awarded sheriffs office life saving medal, Wisconsin politicians react to Roe v. Wade being overturned by U.S. Supreme Court. Ashley Zastrow will serve one year and one day in federal prison for presenting herself as the buyer of the handguns when in fact she was not. The campaign aims to not only provide better education for firearms retailers, but also to make the general public aware of the laws and penalties associated with making a straw purchase. The civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Blake family, falsely described Rittenhouse on Friday as a "self-declared white nationalist." During a trip to Black's family's hunting property in May 2020, Black agreed to buy a rifle for Rittenhouse, who was 17 and couldn't lawfully buy or possess one. A Cold War era classic with smooth lines, a legendary back story, and an exotic-sounding name, Beretta's Model 71 was definitely a mouse that roared. The 29-year-old Indiana man allegedly acted as a straw purchaser to buy the firearm used to kill Chicago police Officer Ella French. How Can Employers Avoid Accusations of Wrongful Termination? A straw purchase occurs when somebody purchases a firearm for another person while pretending to purchase it for personal use. For instance, if a father were to buy his son a firearm and didn't plan on being the owner and primary user of the weapon himself, it would qualify as a straw purchase. was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four . Rockford, IL 61101, Chicago: (312) 353-5300 A Wisconsin jury fully acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse on Friday, finding him not guilty on five counts. Graap is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety. (1) Whoever intentionally furnishes, purchases, or possesses a firearm for a person, knowing that the person is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29 (1m), is guilty of a Class G felony. Instead, Ritchie passed the guns off to Victor Pennington in exchange for meth. Two Minnesotans were recently charged and convicted for committing the crime. There was a problem saving your notification. Thanks to Governor Walker, prosecutors should be able to make gun charges stick and get dangerous criminals off the streets.. May 19, 2018: Valentine purchased two handguns from a dealer at Bob and Roccos Gun Show in Onalaska, Wisc. ROCKFORD A federal judge has sentenced a Rockford man to five years and four months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm in Rockford, to be followed by ROCKFORD A former inmate of the United States Penitentiary in Thomson, Ill. was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison for assaulting a federal correctional officer. This is not the same thing as purchasing a firearm as a genuine, bonafide gift. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday filed a civil lawsuit against Wisconsin-based retailer Fleet Farm for allegedly selling guns to straw purchasers, including a man who. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Judge Conley also reasoned that a prison sentence was warranted given the defendants poor performance on pre-trial release and nominal efforts to confront her methamphetamine addiction. It is a serious danger to our communities. The governor and Lane are supporting House Bill 306. An official website of the United States government. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Section 18 U.S.C. However, you should beware of what is known as a straw purchase, which is illegal. I have no answer. It is legal to purchase a firearm as a gift for another, if you are actually buying the firearm for . A straw purchaser can be identified as a person with a clean background who purchases firearms specifically on behalf of a person prohibited from purchasing a firearm because that prohibited person is a convicted felon, domestic violence misdemeanant, juvenile, an individual who has been adjudicated mentally ill or one who is prohibited for other This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. After providing personal information, question 21 - made up of 11 "yes" or "no" sub-questions - begins by asking "Are you the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm (s) listed on this form . But any violation of the Gun Control Act, 1968 make the . Reports of thefts to police are much lower: they totalled about 240,000 in 2016, according to the FBI's National Crime Information Center, which derives its figures from data provided by local law enforcement. The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a major victory to gun control advocates on Monday. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children. 924(a)(1)(A). In sentencing the 32-year-old, Judge Conley stated that she made a disastrous choice to transfer firearms to a prohibited person and could not ignore the fact that this choice contributed to a womans death.