SEATTLE — A Kent man pleaded guilty to multiple firearms offenses for his purchase of more than 100 guns in a "straw purchaser" scheme, many of which were later connected to other crimes.
Dion Jamar Cooper, 31, was arrested in April 2023 following a Seattle Police Department (SPD) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) investigation.
The investigation began in January 2023 after an assault and attempted robbery of a woman in Rainier Valley, the criminal complaint says. A gun dropped by one of the assailants was originally purchased by Cooper in December 2022. The ATF found that Cooper had purchased 107 firearms since June 2021, with two dozen instances where he purchased multiple guns.
“Mr. Cooper lied on purchase forms and then trafficked more than 100 firearms on the streets of our community. He trafficked to those who are prohibited from possessing guns, because of their criminal history. It is not surprising that more than two dozen of the firearms have been linked to crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “Congress has responded to the epidemic of gun violence with new laws targeting such “straw purchasing” and we are using them in this case.”
Over March and April 2023, Cooper was surveilled by agents as he made arrangements to purchase additional firearms. De’ondre Lamontia Phillips was identified as the person who drove Cooper to the gun shops where he bought the weapons. Phillips has past convictions that forbid him from purchasing or possessing firearms.
Cooper pleaded guilty to two counts of making a false statement in connection with firearm acquisition, one count of straw purchasing firearms and one count of trafficking in firearms. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 17.
Straw purchasing is when one person purchases a gun from a licensed dealer for another person.
Phillips pleaded guilty in January to drug and gun possession charges and will be sentenced in late April.
Cooper faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
