Former Couple Sentenced to Prison Terms for Illegally Trafficking Over 80 Firearms from Georgia and Texas to the DMV

            WASHINGTON – Gregory Bournes Jr., 31, of Lancaster, Va., and Dream Jackson, 30, of Riverdale, Ga., were sentenced today in connection with trafficking more than 80 firearms into the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

            Bournes and Jackson each pleaded guilty on October 5, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. They were sentenced by the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth. Based on the applicable federal sentencing guidelines, Judge Lamberth sentenced Bournes to 30 months in prison and Jackson to 27 months in prison. Following their prison terms, Bournes and Jackson will each serve three years of supervised release.

            According to court papers, from February 2021 through February 2022, Bournes and Jackson—who were in a romantic relationship at the time—conspired to purchase firearms from licensed dealers in the States of Georgia and Texas and to transport and transfer the firearms to the District of Columbia and elsewhere, for the purpose of unlawfully reselling the firearms for profit. In total, Bournes and Jackson purchased more than 80 pistols, which they then sold to others. As part of their guilty pleas, Bournes and Jackson each admitted that they knew or had to reason to believe that their conduct would result in prohibited persons receiving firearms.

            In March 2023, following their indictment by a federal grand jury, Bournes and Jackson were arrested in Georgia—where they both resided at the time—pursuant to warrants issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. They have remained in custody since the time of their guilty pleas.

            Most of the firearms trafficked by Bournes and Jackson remain unaccounted for, and law enforcement in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area continue to recover the trafficked firearms in connection with criminal activity. To date, 34 firearms have been recovered by law enforcement.  Several of those firearms had been used in furtherance of criminal activity, including an armed carjacking in the District of Columbia and an attempted murder in Prince George’s County.

            The case was investigated by the ATF with valuable assistance from the ATF’s Washington Field Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine A. Pattison, with valuable assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas G. Strong.