WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's U.S. Attorney's office for XXXXXX (insert district) issued the following press release:
ROCKFORD - A Rockford man has been sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for straw purchasing ten firearms on behalf of individuals associated with a street gang.
From January 2023 to September 2024, CLESHON PHIPPS purchased ten firearms for two individuals associated with the 3-World street gang. In connection with the purchases, Phipps falsely represented himself as the buyer of the firearms, knowing that the sales would have been denied by the firearms dealers if he indicated that he was buying the guns for those individuals.
Phipps, 24, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of maki...