NORFOLK, Va. – Raymond Augustus Haskins, 46, of Parma, Ohio, was convicted today by a Norfolk federal jury on two counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. 

            Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the verdicts were accepted by United States District Senior Judge Robert G. Doumar.

            Haskins faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 when he is sentenced on December 3, 2012.

            Haskins was indicted on May 25, 2012 on the two firearm counts and arrested in Ohio on June 19, 2012.  According to court records and evidence at trial, on October 14, 2009 Haskins was provided $500 by a woman whom he knew to be a prostitute and drug dealer and asked to purchase a firearm for her.

            With the money provided, Haskins straw-purchased a Taurus .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun from Superior Gun and Pawn Shop in Virginia Beach.  The firearm was recovered by the New York City Police Department 65 days later in Jamaica, Queens.  In completing the ATF Firearms Transaction Record, Haskins made a false written statement by claiming he was the actual buyer of the firearm.        

            This case was investigated by the New York Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Cleveland, Ohio and Norfolk Field Offices.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Cameron M. Rountree is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.

 

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