Philadelphia Woman Convicted of Straw Purchasing Firearms in Bucks County

Editors Note: The following press release is directly from ATF. Regular readers of AmmoLand News know our stance on the unaccountable Federal Agency: No comment. We invite our readers to leave their hard-hitting insights in the comments below.

Don't Lie For The Other Guy
Don’t Lie For The Other Guy

PHILADELPHIA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Brihany Baker, 25, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted today at trial of illegally purchasing three semi-automatic firearms for her romantic partner.

In November 2020, the defendant was charged by Indictment with criminal conspiracy to knowingly make false statements to a federal firearms licensee, and making a false statement to a federal firearms licensee. The charges stem an investigation into straw purchasers of firearms at a gun dealer in Horsham, PA in June 2020. Investigators were conducting surveillance of that store when they observed the defendant and another individual, who was prohibited from purchasing firearms, enter the store. The investigators then proactively delayed any sale of firearms to the defendant and while obtaining video from inside the store, which showed the prohibited purchaser, who was also the defendant’s boyfriend, Donte Maxwell, place a $200 deposit on three semi-automatic firearms, handle the firearms, and take pictures of the firearms.

Then, in July 2020, the defendant returned to the store and purchased the three semi-automatic firearms, stating on a federal form 4473 that she was buying them for herself and not another person. The defendant subsequently confessed that she lied on the form and actually bought the firearms for her boyfriend. At the time of the purchase, Mr. Maxwell faced a felony charge and was prohibited from buying firearms.

“The purpose of our ‘All Hands On Deck’ initiative is, first and foremost, to prevent violent crime, which includes targeting for prosecution straw firearms purchasers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “By charging crimes like straw purchasing of firearms, where firearms are purchased in order to turn them over to people who are prohibited from legally buying or possessing them, we can cut off the supply of illegal weapons at the source. Now, this defendant will face the consequences of her actions.”

“ATF is committed to keeping firearms out of the hands of individuals prohibited from legally possessing them,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Straw purchasing is a serious offense in which ATF along with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue to investigate and prosecute those responsible. This conviction ensures this defendant can no longer purchase firearms for others.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Miller.

Philadelphia Field Division


Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating violations of the federal firearms and explosives laws and regulations. More information about ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ( ATF )

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Deplorable Bill

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of the free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” The second amendment, THE law of the land, a part of the United State’s constitution which EVERY government official swears to defend. Maybe, it’s not required for the atfe? Not likely. That brings up the FACT that any free American citizen has the right, the mandate, the order to keep and bear arms. It also brings up the fact the government is LEGALLY constrained on all matters concerning firearms, the right to carry… Read more »

2gats

PUBLISH ATF EMPLOYEE ADDRESSES

PUBLISH ALL TAX PAYOR FUNDED PARASITES HOME ADDRESSES

Wild Bill

While I admire your enthusiasm, that would not solve the problem. The problem is that the GCA and NFA, both, exist. Only Congress, and a presidential signature can abolish those. Who goes to Congress and who is president is up to us… theoretically.

loveaduck

It’s illegal to knowingly put someone else in the crosshairs.

Wild Bill

Do you mean that even those employees have a Right to privacy as recorded in the Fourth Amendment?

Roland T. Gunner

Why is your position “no comment”? Thats really chickenshit of you. I do everything I can to undermine ATF.

gregs

“ATF is committed to keeping firearms out of the hands of individuals prohibited from legally possessing them,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division.

maybe i’m reading this incorrectly, but shouldn’t the atf be stopping prohibited persons from illegally possessing firearms?

why were they conducting surveillance of that dealer?

is the doj prosecuting the felon boyfriend?

Wild Bill

The SAC and prosecutor have mastered the politicians’ skill of fuzzy language and disguising intent. MC, brother.

TexDad

Wait, Mr. Maxwell faced a felony charge? He was deprived of a constitutional right without being found guilty?

Just looked it up, it’s right there in the GCA at 922(n).

Seems like a clear violation of a person’s due process rights.

Nun Ya

If they were so dangerous, why were they free? Let’s say this happened in Texas, where people convicted of a felony are allowed to possess on their property after five years completion off of parole and out of jail, how do they go about obtaining said firearm?

Wild Bill

Well, as your hypothetical is venued in Texas, your subject person could just go to the local … yard sale!

KK

Buy a gun for someone who can’t, buy yourself 10 YEARS IN JAIL! GREAT! HOW ABOUT THIS! A PROHIBITED PERSON WITH A GUN – AUTOMATIC 10 YEARS IN JAIL! It’s so bad to buy a gun for a prohibited person, because the prohibited person is so dangerous, but then the prohibited person has the “gun” part of the charge dropped, or when they are shooting up the city, IT’S OK! – IT’S “MUTUAL COMBAT” – AND THERE ARE NO CHARGES! We are now at the point where the government sees any and everyone who legally buys a gun as a… Read more »

Wild Bill

It is almost as if certain governments want criminals to be a protected class. The “woke” world is really in a dream world, and created a nightmare for the rest of us. MC

loveaduck

Going by names, this couple appeared to be black, not white.