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The Virginian-Pilot(Norfolk, Va.)
January 29, 2003 Wednesday Final Edition
SECTION: LOCAL, Pg. B2
LENGTH: 576 words
HEADLINE: U.S. AGENTS, NEW YORK POLICE TRACE GUNS TO VIRGINIA BUYERS
BYLINE: TIM McGLONE THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS
BODY:
On May 3, 2001, a young woman walked into Winfree's Firearms in Grafton, filled out a form, handed a clerk about $100 and walked out with a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol.
She then gave the gun to her friend, a convicted felon from Hampton who was ineligible to buy one himself, according to court records.
Two days later, records show, he sold the gun to an undercover New York City police officer in a violent section of the Bronx controlled by the Bloods street gang. It was about that time when police and federal agents began what would turn into a two-year investigation into illegal gun trafficking between Virginia and New York.
On Tuesday, officials announced that more than 30 people have been charged in federal and state courts as part of the alleged gun ring.
The ring, according to officials, exploited the relative ease with which people can buy guns in some parts of Virginia compared to New York and most other states.
Authorities said New York City undercover police bought 107 illegal guns in the investigation - the largest such seizure in the city's history. In all, authorities identified 150 guns that were sold illegally in Virginia by eight shops on the Peninsula and one in Isle of Wight County.
Winfree's in Grafton stood out, authorities said.
It was there that Shawn Pettaway, the Hampton man, arranged to buy 73 guns illegally, according to court records. He used "straw buyers," typically friends or family members out to make a quick buck or a hit of drugs, authorities said. It also stood out because Pettaway said he "knew the salesman" in the store, court records say.
Straw buyers are able to buy weapons because they lack a felony record or other purchase prohibitions, but it is illegal because they go into the store with the intent of reselling the gun immediately to someone who is ineligible to buy it.
Chesia Leann Connor, then 21, was the straw buyer that day in May, court records say.
Records show that Pettaway, then 30, paid her $75, plus drugs, to buy the gun. He also paid her to stay at a motel.
When federal agents arrested her on Sunday and told her she was being charged with lying on her gun application form, court records show that she said to them, "Is that all?"
Officials would not comment on whether the gun stores are under investigation, but they said no one has been charged. They also would not comment on the salesman whom Pettaway said he knew at Winfree's.
An employee who answered the phone at the shop Tuesday would not comment and said the manager was unavailable.
Many of the 150 guns later turned up in the Bronx, where undercover police officers bought them from two alleged ringleaders, Pettaway and Phenroy Day Jr., and others.
The two men are Bronx natives who have lived on the Peninsula in recent years.
They face charges in state court in the Bronx as part of a 200-count indictment.
Other guns turned up in Syracuse, N.Y., and Baltimore. Fourteen were discovered at crime scenes.
The newly named Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives noticed the Virginia pattern when it traced the weapons.
Although Virginia has fewer restrictions in which to buy guns, U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty said this investigation shows that authorities will vigorously pursue any violations of the law.
He pointed out that the rights of legitimate gun buyers also must be protected.
January 29, 2003 Wednesday Final Edition
SECTION: LOCAL, Pg. B2
LENGTH: 576 words
HEADLINE: U.S. AGENTS, NEW YORK POLICE TRACE GUNS TO VIRGINIA BUYERS
BYLINE: TIM McGLONE THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS
BODY:
On May 3, 2001, a young woman walked into Winfree's Firearms in Grafton, filled out a form, handed a clerk about $100 and walked out with a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol.
She then gave the gun to her friend, a convicted felon from Hampton who was ineligible to buy one himself, according to court records.
Two days later, records show, he sold the gun to an undercover New York City police officer in a violent section of the Bronx controlled by the Bloods street gang. It was about that time when police and federal agents began what would turn into a two-year investigation into illegal gun trafficking between Virginia and New York.
On Tuesday, officials announced that more than 30 people have been charged in federal and state courts as part of the alleged gun ring.
The ring, according to officials, exploited the relative ease with which people can buy guns in some parts of Virginia compared to New York and most other states.
Authorities said New York City undercover police bought 107 illegal guns in the investigation - the largest such seizure in the city's history. In all, authorities identified 150 guns that were sold illegally in Virginia by eight shops on the Peninsula and one in Isle of Wight County.
Winfree's in Grafton stood out, authorities said.
It was there that Shawn Pettaway, the Hampton man, arranged to buy 73 guns illegally, according to court records. He used "straw buyers," typically friends or family members out to make a quick buck or a hit of drugs, authorities said. It also stood out because Pettaway said he "knew the salesman" in the store, court records say.
Straw buyers are able to buy weapons because they lack a felony record or other purchase prohibitions, but it is illegal because they go into the store with the intent of reselling the gun immediately to someone who is ineligible to buy it.
Chesia Leann Connor, then 21, was the straw buyer that day in May, court records say.
Records show that Pettaway, then 30, paid her $75, plus drugs, to buy the gun. He also paid her to stay at a motel.
When federal agents arrested her on Sunday and told her she was being charged with lying on her gun application form, court records show that she said to them, "Is that all?"
Officials would not comment on whether the gun stores are under investigation, but they said no one has been charged. They also would not comment on the salesman whom Pettaway said he knew at Winfree's.
An employee who answered the phone at the shop Tuesday would not comment and said the manager was unavailable.
Many of the 150 guns later turned up in the Bronx, where undercover police officers bought them from two alleged ringleaders, Pettaway and Phenroy Day Jr., and others.
The two men are Bronx natives who have lived on the Peninsula in recent years.
They face charges in state court in the Bronx as part of a 200-count indictment.
Other guns turned up in Syracuse, N.Y., and Baltimore. Fourteen were discovered at crime scenes.
The newly named Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives noticed the Virginia pattern when it traced the weapons.
Although Virginia has fewer restrictions in which to buy guns, U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty said this investigation shows that authorities will vigorously pursue any violations of the law.
He pointed out that the rights of legitimate gun buyers also must be protected.
