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REDACTED AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF ARREST WARRANT AND
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I, Christopher Scott, being duly sworn, hereby depose a na
state that: 1. I am a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms
&
Explosives (ATF) , and h a v e been so employed
since August 10, 2002.
I am responsible for investigating
violations of the Gun Control A c t and the National Firearms Act.
2. Fxom 1997 to 2002, I was previously employed as a
United S t a t e s Border Patrol Agent.
I was responsible for
investigating violations, and apprehending violators, of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Controlled Substances Act. 3 . I am a graduate of the ten-week Criminal Investigator
Training Program and the thirteen-week ATF New Professional Training Program (NPT), both held at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. During NPT I received specific training in firearms law, firearms technology, explosives, and methods of investigation, including use of confidential
informants and undercover operations. 4. As a result of my training and experience as a Special
Agent f o r ATP,
1 am
familiar w i t h the Federal firearms laws a n d
know that it is unlawful for an alien unlawfully in the United
States to possess a firearm in or affecting commerce under 18 U.S.C. Section 922 (9).
Further, it is unlawful to knowingly
make a false statement with respect to the i n f o r m a t i o n required
,y C h a p t e r 4 4 , T i t l e 1 8 , United S t a t e s Code, t o be kept i n t h e
: e c o r d s of a person Licensed under Chapter 4 4 ( a F e d e r a l F i r e a r m s l i c e n s e e (FFL)1 during a c q u i s i t i o n of a f i r e a r m u n d e r
.
18 U. S C.
.
S e c t i o n 924 (a)(1)(A)
I t i s a l s o u n l a w f u l f o r two
Dersons t o c o n s p i r e t o commit an o f f e n s e a g a i n s t t h e United states and t o do any a c t t o e f f e c t t h e o b j e c t of t h e conspiracy
lnder 1 8 U.S.C.
Section 371.
5 - The f a c t s s t a t e d i n this a f f i d a v i t ? e r s o n a l knowledge,
are
based on
my
law enforcement r e p o r t s of o t h e r a g e n c i e s
dhich I have reviewed, and upon my c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h City a n d
Federal Law Enforcement O f f i c e r s ,
coconspirators,
and o t h e r s
dho h a v e p e r s o n a l knowledge of facts p e r t a i n i n g t o t h i s case. This a f f i d a v i t
is being submitted f o r t h e limited purpose
r e c e i v i n g a complaint and a r r e s t w a r r a n t .
I
of
have set f o r t h
only those f a c t s which I b e l i e v e t o be n e c e s s a r y t o e s t a b l i s h
probable c a u s e f o r t h e charges. 6. On November 2, 2005, Jamaican C o n s t a b u l a r y Police
recovered a S m i t h
&
Wesson, model 6906, 9mrn p i s t o l ,
~ C ~ 2 0 8 6i ,n Kingstown, Jamaica.
s/n
ATF records c h e c k s revealed
t h a t t h e f i r e a r m had been purchased o n l y 11 days p r i o r , on October 22, 2005, by J e n n i e Frey of Hampton, V i r g i n i a .
Frey
the above firearm from Superior Pawn Company, an FFL
l o c a t e d a t 104 W . Mercury Blvd, Hampton, Virginia. 7. On February 13, 2006, S p e c i a l Agent Woloszynowski and I
interviewed J e n n i e Frey r e g a r d i n g h e r p u r c h a s e of t h e Smith &
Wesson p i s t o l .
I n i t i a l l y , Frey t o l d m e t h a t t h e f i r e a r m was 2
s t o l e n ; however, s h e soon r e c a n t e d and t o l d m e t h a t she p u r c h a s e d t h e f i r e a r m on b e h a l f o f a man s h e knew only as "Bobby."
Frey t o l d me t h a t , i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e S m i t h
6
Wesson
p i s t o l , s h e had p r e v i o u s l y p u r c h a s e d t h r e e o t h e r p i s t o l s on b e h a l f of "Bobby."
Using i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d by Frey, I was
a b l e t o i d e n t i f y "Bobby" a s Conway Robert Simpson,
XX/XX/XX.
Record c h e c k s showed t h a t Simpson was a n a l i e n who may be u n l a w f u l l y i n t h e United S t a t e s .
Simpson, a c i t i z e n and n a t i v e
of Jamaica, was a d m i t t e d t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n O c t o b e r 2 0 0 0
a s a nonimmigrant v i s i t o r .
He was p e r m i t t e d t o r e m a i n i n t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s for six months b u t o v e r s t a y e d h i s p e r i o d of, admission.
When I showed Frey a p h o t o g r a p h o f Simpson, she
p o s i t i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d Simpson a s t h e man s h e knew as "Bobby." 8. When a s k e d t o d e s c r i b e t h e f i r e a r m s t r a n s a c t i o n s i n
d e t a i l , Frey t o l d me t h a t Simpson had r e c r u i t e d h e r t o p u r c h a s e p i s t o l s f o r him sometime i n 2004, and i n s t r u c t e d hex a s t o w h a t c a l i b e r and b r a n d o f f i r e a r m h e wanted h e r t o p u r c h a s e .
Frey
s t a t e d t h a t Simpson n e v e r t r a v e l e d w i t h h e r t o t h e FFL, but would meet h e r a f t e r t h e p u r c h a s e t o r e t r i e v e t h e f i r e a r m and pay h e r an a d d i t i o n a l $200
-
$250.
Frey s a i d t h a t she
purchased t h e f i r e a r m s for Simpson a t e i t h e r S u p e r i o r Pawn Company o r A & P A r m s , b o t h l o c a t e d i n Hampton, V i r g i n i a . 9 . I n s e a r c h i n g r e c o r d s a t S u p e r i o r Pawn a n d A & P Arms,
was d e t e r m i n e d t h a t Frey p u r c h a s e d t h e f o l l o w i n g pistols t h s h e l a t e r t o l d m e s h e purchased a t t h e request of Simpson a n d gave t o Simpson a f t e r t h e p u r c h a s e : 3
6/15/04
-
Highpoint, Model 45, .45 caliber pistol,
s/n X414883. 8/18/04
- Highpoint, Model YCP,
.40 caliber pistol,
s/n X714750. 11/15/04
-
Ruger, Model P95, 9mm pistol, s/n 315-
27564. 10. Frey stated that, on October 22, 2005, Simpson zelephoned her from XXX-XXX-8364 and instructed her to purchase 3
firearm for him.
Simpson told Frey that he was out of
Jirginia but would send her money via Western Union so she zould purchase the firearm. Simpson told Frey that he would
arrive in Virginia on October 23 or 24 to meet with her, retrieve the firearm, and pay her an additional $250. Frey nlso told me that she collected $400 from a Western Union terminal, traveled to Superior Pawn Company, and purchased the smith
&
Wesson pistol, s/n TCL2086.
During the purchase of the
firearm, Frey completed the ATF Form 4473, a firearms :ransaction record that helps to determine if the buyer is ?rohibited from possessing firearms.
1 later reviewed the ATF
Form 4473 that Frey completed and noted that Frey answered " Y e s J Cto
question # lla which asks the buyer, "Are you the
nctual buyer of the firearm listed on this form? WARNING:
You
are not the actual buyer if you are acquiting the firearm on ~ehalfof another person."
On or about October 23, 2005, Frey
net with Simpson and gave him the firearm.
11. 1 l a t e r r e c e i v e d r e c o r d s p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e Western
I 2
Union money t r a n s f e r a n d t h e c e l l u l a r t e l e p h o n e n u m b e r Simpson
3
used t o c o n t a c t Frey.
4
$400 m o n e y t r a n s f e r s e n t from Simpson t o F r e y on O c t o b e r 22,
5
2005,
6
The sender l i s t e d h i s name a s P a u l Whyte, XXX XX St, C l e v e l a n d ,
7
Ohio, h a v i n g t h e same t e l e p h o n e number t h a t Sirnpson used to
8
c o n t a c t F r e y , XXX-XXX-8364.
9
Western Union r e c o r d s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e
o r i g i n a t e d from 15237 E u c l i d Avenue, C l e v e l a n d , Ohio.
12. S p r i n t t e l e p h o n e r e c o r d s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e r e g i s t e r e d
x xxx
10
a c c o u n t h o l d e r of XXX-XXX-8364 was P a t i n a Davis,
11
S t , C l e v e l a n d , Ohio.
12
t e l e p h o n e c a l l s were made t o F r e y o n t h e d a y s h e purchased the
13
firearm.
14
t e l e p h o n e was l o c a t e d i n New C a s t l e , P e n n s y l v a n i a ,
IS
2 2 , 2005.
16
XXX
C a l l d e t a i l records confirmed that
A d d i t i o n a l l y , r o a m i n g d e t a i l i n d i c a t e d t h a t the
13. S p e c i a l A g e n t s from t h e C l e v e l a n d , Ohio,
on October
Field Office
17
d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e a d d r e s s p r o v i d e d b y t h e s e n d e r of t h e
18
W e s t e r n Union money t r a n s f e r was a f i c t i t i o u s address t h a t did
19
not exist.
20
b u t were u n s u c c e s s f u l .
21
t h e Western Union t e r m i n a l i n C l e v e l a n d , Ohio, t h e employee
22
i d e n t i f i e d Simpson v i a p h o t o g r a p h as a c u s t o m e r w h o frequents
23
h i s c o n v e n i e n c e s t o r e often.
24 25
F u r t h e r , a g e n t s a t t e m p t e d t o i d e n t i f y P a u l Whyte When a g e n t s c o n t a c t e d a n e m p l o y e e of
1 4 . S p e c i a l A g e n t s f r o m t h e C l e v e l a n d , Ohio,
F i e l d Office
a l s o i n t e r v i e w e d P a t i n a Davis a t h e r g i v e n a d d r e s s .
When
a g e n t s showed D a v i s a p h o t o g r a p h o f Simpson, s h e said t h a t 5
; i m p s o n was h e r ex-boyfriend,
b u t t h e two no l o n g e r dated.
l o r e o v e r , Davis s a i d t h a t , w h i l e s h e and Simpson were d a t i n g ,
she bought Simpson a c e l l u l a r t e l e p h o n e .
Eventually, the
z e l l u l a r t e l e p h o n e a c c o u n t was d e a c t i v a t e d f o r nonpayment. j o w e v e r , u s i n g D a v i s ' s name and l a s t f o u r d i g i t s of her s o c i a l
security number, Simpson r e a c t i v a t e d t h e a c c o u n t a f t e r p a y i n g t h e a m o u n t due, a c c o r d i n g t o Davis.
When t h e a c c o u n t was
r e a c t i v a t e d , Simpson o b t a i n e d a d i f f e r e n t c e l l u l a r t e l e p h o n e
?umber. 15. S p e c i a l Agent T e r e s a Merhige, an i n t e r s t a t e nexus
expert w i t h a p p r o x i m a t e l y 18 y e a r s i n v e s t i g a t i v e e x p e r i e n c e , d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e Smith
&
Wesson, model 6906, 9mm p i s t o l ,
TCL208 6, was manufactured i n M a s s a c h u s e t t s .
s/n
B e c a u s e the
f i r e a r m was s o l d i n V i r g i n i a , i t had been t r a n s p o r t e d i n , and a f f e c t e d , i n t e r s t a t e commerce. 16. A check o f t h e ATF l i c e n s i n g d a t a b a s e i n d i c a t e d t h a t
Superior Pawn Company is a F e d e r a l f i r e a r m s l i c e n s e e .
Superior
pawn Company h a s FFL number 154650029C01459 and has been l i c e n s e d a s a n FFL s i n c e February 2003.
T h i s FFL was most
r e c e n t l y renewed i n February 2006. 1 7 . Based on my t r a i n i n g and e x p e r i e n c e ,
I know that
f i r e a m t r a f f i c k e r s w i l l o f t e n u t i l i z e o t h e r s t o purchase f i r e a r m s on t h e i r b e h a l f .
Likewise, d u r i n g t h e p u r c h a s e of t h e
f i r e a r m , t h e purchaser f a l s e l y i n d i c a t e s o n ATF Form 4 4 7 3 they a r e t h e b u y e r of the f i r e a r m when, i n f a c t , t h e f i r e a r m i s actually f o r t h e firearm t r a f f i c k e r .
Firearm t r a f f i c k e r s
j t i l i z e o t h e r s t o p u r c h a s e f i r e a r m s in o r d e r t o c o n c e a l the i d e n t i t y of t h e a c t u a l f i r e a r m owner a n d t o deflect suspicion from t h e m s e l v e s s h o u l d t h e f i r e a r m s e r i a l number be t r a c e d b y law e n f o r c e m e n t .
A d d i t i o n a l l y , f i r e a r m t r a f f i c k e r s a r e often
t h e m s e l v e s p ~ o h i b i t e df r o m p o s s e s s i n g f i r e a r m s . 18. Based o n my t r a i n i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c e ,
I a l s o know t h a t
o r o h i b i t e d people w i l l utilize o t h e r s t o p u r c h a s e f i r e a r m s o n their behalf.
T h i s i s because p r o h i b i t e d p e o p l e know t h a t they
s i l l f a i l t h e b a c k g r o u n d c h e c k r e q u i r e d by F e d e r a l l a w if t h e y a t t e m p t t o p u r c h a s e t h e firearm t h e m s e l v e s .
B e c a u s e i t appears
S i m p s o n was an a l i e n u n l a w f u l l y p r e s e n t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , he s h o u l d have f a i l e d t h e b a c k g r o u n d c h e c k h a d h e a t t e m p t e d to purchase t h e firearm himself. ~ a s e don t h e f o r e g o i n g f a c t s , I c o n c l u d e there i s probable c a u s e t o b e l i e v e t h a t Conway S i m p s o n v i o l a t e d t h e p r o v i s i o n s of
18 u . s . C .
S e c t i o n s 9 2 4 ( a I ( l ) ( A ) , 2 , a n d 371.
I respectfully
r e q u e s t t h a t a n a r r e s t w a r r a n t be i s s u e d .
AT!? S p e c i a l Agent
Scott W . Putney Assistant United S t a t e s Attorney