2 central Ohioans among 6 men convicted of illegal gun sales, many used in crimes
Six men have been convicted in federal court in Columbus for illegally trafficking guns in a conspiracy that involved straw purchases at multiple Ohio stores and reselling more than 100 guns, often in Cleveland and Rochester, New York, where many of the firearms were used in shootings and other crimes.
On Wednesday, Jadden Bedell, 21, of Cleveland, was the final defendant to plead guilty to conspiring to deal firearms without a license, which is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
The five other men who have pleaded and been convicted are Brian Cunningham, 43, of Marysville, Union County; Tyson Rathburn, 47, of Ashville, Pickaway County; Anthony D. Redmond, 59, and Martino D. Lorenzi, 35, both of Cleveland, and Charles L. Jackson, 28, of Rochester, New York.
Between January and May 2022, the men sold firearms without a federal license, according to court records. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Kenneth L. Parker's office said many of the guns have been recovered in connection with other crimes and shootings.
Federal prosecutors said Cunningham and Rathburn purchased more than 200 guns at three licensed dealers in Ohio: Frazier Firearms in Ashville, George Washinguns in Commercial Point, and Rural King Guns in Huber Heights. The pair sometimes used straw purchasers.
The men then listed the guns for sale online on websites like armslist.com at marked-up prices, federal prosecutors say.
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The four other men — Redmond, Lorenzi, Jackson and Bedell — made multiple trips from Cleveland to Columbus to purchase firearms from Cunningham and Rathburn.
The six men met several times at gas stations and stores to purchase handguns, including in New Albany, Marysville, and Ashville, according to court records. In one instance, on March 19, 2022, Beddell and Jackson met Rathburn near a gas station off Interstate 71 in Marengo, Morrow County, to buy 42 firearms for $14,000.
In May 2022, Beddell, Jackson and Lorenzi bought 16 guns for $5,200 from an undercover agent for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, court records state.
Jackson and Redmond could not legally own firearms given Jackson's indictment on a felony case in New York and Redmon's felony conviction in Cuyahoga County, according to federal court records.
Jackson has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison. The other five defendants await sentencing.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 6 convicted in federal court in Columbus for illegal gun sales
