Man Sentenced to Prison for Straw Purchasing a Firearm

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to one and a half years in prison for straw purchasing a firearm.

According to court documents, Treyshard Jackson-Cooper, 25, was introduced to an individual from a Maryland Bike Crew who asked him to purchase a firearm for him, specifically a Glock, Model 30, semi-automatic pistol. In October 2018, Jackson-Cooper went to Superior Pawn, a licensed dealer of firearms, located in Hampton, and purchased the requested firearm. During the transaction, Jackson-Cooper completed an ATF Form 4473. Question 11(a) on ATF Form 4473 asks whether the individual filling out the form is the “actual transferee/buyer of the firearm.” Jackson-Cooper answered this question in the affirmative, though he subsequently admitted that he was not and knew he was not the actual transferee/buyer at the time he purchased the firearm and filled out the form.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen S. Taylor prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-cr-48.