A McDonough woman was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in federal prison for dealing in firearms without a license and for trying to have someone killed.
Melissa Towana Wood, 50, pleaded guilty to the charges Feb. 2, according to U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.
Wood came to the attention of law enforcement when they learned she may have been selling weapons to members of a Jamaican gang, Yates said.
During a month-long undercover investigation, Wood sold about 14 firearms to an informant, Yates said. The firearms included a .40-caliber and 9mm pistol and an AK-47 and SKS assault rifle.
Wood told the informant she had access to more guns and even hand grenades, according to authorities.
Wood also told the informant about a person who was bothering her, and indicated that she wanted the problem “taken care of.” Wood repeatedly brought up the person to the informant, including his description and workplace, during the undercover investigation.
Fearing that the victim might be in danger, agents staged a murder with the intended victim’s help. When the informant showed photographs of the staged murder to Wood, which depicted the victim as shot, Wood appeared happy and thanked the informant.
In fact, no one was harmed, Yates said.
This case was investigated by special agents with Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Hoffer prosecuted the case.
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