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AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
July 28, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GERMANTOWN WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO STRAW PURCHASE OF GUN
GREENBELT, Maryland - Ann Marie Parker, age 48, of Germantown, Maryland pleaded guilty today to making a false statement during a firearm purchase, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein stated, "When you agree to be a straw purchaser and buy a gun for someone who is not allowed to have a gun, you are guilty of a federal crime."
ATF Special Agent in Charge Gregory K. Gant stated “ATF is committed to investigating the straw purchase of firearms. If you lie and buy a gun for someone else, you will go to jail.”
According to the statement of facts provided to the court as part of the plea agreement, on August 31, 2005, Parker went into Gilbert Guns, a firearms dealer located on Rothgeb Drive in Rockville, Maryland. A man remained in the car in the parking lot. Parker completed the forms necessary to purchase a Glock Model 21, .45 caliber handgun. The form included a representation by Parker that she was the actual buyer of the firearm. Over the next few days, a male repeatedly telephoned the gun store asking about the status of “his gun.” When the caller was asked about his identity, he hung up the phone or stated he was calling about the status of his mother’s gun.
On September 2, 2005, Parker returned to Gilbert Guns, completed the purchase of the handgun and placed the gun in the trunk of the car she was driving. Law enforcement authorities followed her as she drove to a residence in Rockville. As she left the residence, she removed the firearm from the trunk of her vehicle and placed it in the glove compartment of the car. She then drove to Washington Grove Lane in Gaithersburg where she parked. A man walked up, briefly entered the passenger side of the car and exited the vehicle with a black bag over his shoulder. When he was approached by law enforcement authorities, the man admitted that there was a gun in the bag. The man and Parker were arrested. Parker confessed to selling the firearm and the man confessed that he asked Parker to purchase the Glock for him in return for $657.
Parker faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison without parole, followed by three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. has scheduled sentencing for October 11, 2006 at 9:30 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Montgomery County Police Department. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna C. Sanger, who is prosecuting the case.
This page last modified—July 28, 2006