Atlanta man held for ‘lying and buying' firearms scheme
A 29-year-old Atlanta man has been arrested and ordered detained on charges he ran a straw purchase scam to illegally obtain firearms, federal prosecutors said.
Aubrey Thomas Phillips Jr. is charged with conspiring in March 2010 with Danielle Nicole McCaslin, 22, of Atlanta, who made false representations when she illegally bought six handguns for Phillips from a dealer in Jonesboro. McCaslin pleaded guilty April 11 to lying on her background application so she could buy the guns for Phillips, a convicted felon.
McCaslin is to be sentenced June 2.
"These cases are not victimless crimes and directly impact our communities," Special Agent in Charge Gregory Gant of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said. "The ‘Don't Lie for the Other Guy’ program is vital in educating firearms dealers and their employees on how to recognize and deter the illegal purchase of firearms through straw purchases. In this instance, the system worked.”
Phillips faces a number of charges, including conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
About the Author
Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.
