Grand Rapids’ Jerriel LaMounta Martin cleared background checks and claimed he was purchasing guns for himself. It turned out he was selling those firearms for $50 to $100 to felons. It’s a practice known as “straw purchasing.”
“For those who engage in straw purchasing and traffic firearms like Jerreil Martin, we will find you and we will hold you accountable. These are not victimless crimes.”
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten for the Western District of Michigan explained more than 40 weapons were illegally trafficked in Genesee, Isabella and Kent Counties. Fourteen guns are connected to violent crimes from drive-by shootings to homicides including an April 2021 homicide in Flint and the February 9, 2022 death of a 2-year-old in Wyoming. The Kent County Prosecutor has filed charges against the father, Seninta Parks.
Martin was sentenced Monday to 37 months in federal prison. Additional sentencing terms include three years supervised release.
