A Cleveland man who made thousands of dollars by buying and selling guns used in shootings and homicides said little on Tuesday as a federal judge sentenced him to more than 11 years in prison. Kenneth Smith, 23, apologized for selling 32 guns to undercover federal agents in less than three weeks, netting $24,000. The guns had been used in 30 shootings, including several homicides. [More]
The rest of the story is paywalled and the only other thing I could find is he did all this while being a “prohibited person” himself:
KENNETH SMITH, 23, East Cleveland, was charged with Engaging in the Business of Dealing Firearms without a Federal Firearms License, Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, and being a Felon in Possession of Firearms.
It does raise the question why they needed to drag it out over 32 guns and three weeks when one sale could have done the trick, and for some reason a South Park bust comes to mind (NSFW).
[Via JG]
I wonder what influence he has, or what dirt he has on higher-ups, or what evidence against other criminals he turned over, etc., that he only got 11 years for 32 illegal sales — and at least that many “felon in possession” violations (including machine guns?) — that facilitated 30 shootings (attempted homicides) and “several homicides”, all while a “prohibited person”.
Just the illegal possessions potentially carry 10 years each.
If the FBI had gone after him as hard as they’d go after you or I or the J6 protesters, he’d be in prison for the next four centuries.