Cumberland Man Admits to “Lying and Buying” Nine Firearms

PROVIDENCE, RI – A Cumberland man admitted in U.S. District Court in Providence today to participating in a series of “lying and buying” schemes, where in the fall and winter of 2016, he bought a total of nine guns from three different licensed firearms dealers by falsely representing that he was the actual buyer of the firearms, when in fact he was buying the guns for others.

Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Tariek Gill, 25, pleaded guilty to false statements during the purchase of a firearm and engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

At the time of his guilty plea, Gill admitted to the Court that on November 10, 2016, he falsely represented to a licensed firearm dealer that he was the actual buyer of a Glock G20 10mm pistol. He also submitted that same false information on an ATF Form he provided to the firearms dealer as part of the background check process required to obtain the pistols.  On the form, he falsely represented that he was the actual buyer, not a person buying any firearm on behalf of another person. Gill paid for the firearms, and on November 22, 2016, he obtained the firearms from the dealer.

Gill admitted to the Court that he employed the same straw purchase scheme when on November 25, 2016, he was able to obtain a Ruger .380 caliber pistol and Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver from a licensed firearms dealer; on December 13, 2016, when he obtained a Taurus 9mm pistol, a Taurus .380 caliber pistol, and a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol from a license firearms dealer; and on December 27, 2016, when he obtained a Taurus 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol from a licensed firearms dealer.

Gill admitted to being compensated between $50 and $60 for each gun he purchased as a straw purchaser.

Gill is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2019.

This Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation was conducted by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.