Boulder Woman Sentenced For Making A False Statement When Buying A Firearm

DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn today announced that Cassidy Morgan Ahearn, age 19, of Boulder County, Colorado, was sentenced today to serve two years of probation, which includes 12 months of home detention, for making a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm.  She appeared at the hearing remotely on bond.  The Denver Field Division of the ATF joined in today’s announcement. 

According to the stipulated facts in Ahearn’s plea agreement, on May 8, 2019, the defendant purchased a 5.56 caliber rifle from EZ Pawn in Northglenn, Colorado, which is a federally licensed firearms dealer.   On the date of the purchase, Ahearn signed a Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Form, where she represented that she was the actual buyer of the firearm. In reality, the defendant bought the firearm for and at the request of a friend.  The friend went inside the store with her.  The defendant gave the firearm to the friend about a week after purchasing it.  The firearm was later found at the scene of a homicide, although it was not used to commit the homicide.

“My office, working closely with the ATF, has an important responsibility to ensure that firearms are bought and possessed legally,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  “Lying on a form to purchase a firearm can result in a felony conviction and have other serious consequences, including jail time and loss of the right to possess a firearm in the future.”

“Lying on an ATF form in order to purchase a firearm is not just a paper crime. It arms individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms and puts guns in the hands of criminals,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge David S. Booth.  “ATF is committed to investigating federal firearms crimes like this one and we are pleased to assist the United States Attorney’s office in this successful prosecution.”

The sentence was pronounced by U.S. District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello today, August 12, 2020.  Ahearn was charged by indictment on August 7, 2019, and pleaded guilty on January 15, 2020.  The Denver Field Office of the ATF conducted this investigation.  The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rajiv Mohan.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.  Related court documents can be found on PACER by searching for Case Number 19-cr-355.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.