Two men have been charged in connection with illegally selling a firearm that ended up in the hands of a convicted felon, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.
The Sheriff’s Police investigation began in December 2015, when the Sheriff’s Police Gun Suppression Team recovered a Hi Point 9 mm handgun, which was in the possession of a convicted felon in Sauk Village.
Gun Suppression Team investigators learned through a weapons trace by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that the gun had been purchased on March 31, 2015 by Brandon Brown, who had a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card.
During the investigation, the Gun Suppression Team learned that Brown, 27 of Lynwood, and another man, Desmond Moore, 23, of Sauk Village, went to a Cabela’s in Indiana to purchase the weapon. At that time, Moore did not have a valid FOID card and Brown purchased the weapon for him. The weapon was shipped to the Borderline shop in Crete, IL, where the two men picked up the gun. Brown then gave the gun to Moore, knowing Moore did not have a valid FOID card.
Later in April 2015, Moore received a FOID card but did not legally transfer the weapon he received from Brown, according to the investigation. In October 2015, Moore sold the weapon to another individual, who Moore knew had been charged with a felony. According to the investigation, Moore also knew this individual did not have a valid FOID card.
The weapon ultimately ended up in the possession of another individual the person Gun Suppression Team investigators arrested in December.
Gun Suppression Team Investigators arrested Brown and Moore on March 15.
Brown has been charged with one count of illegal transfer of a firearm, a class 4 felony and one count of unlawful sale of a firearm, a class 4 felony.
Moore also has been charged with one count of illegal transfer of a firearm and one count of unlawful sale of a firearm.
Moore faces an additional count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon – no concealed carry license. Investigators found a loaded 9 mm Glock in Moore’s car on March 15, when he had met with Gun Suppression Team investigators. Moore did not have a concealed carry license to allow him to legally carry a loaded weapon in his vehicle.
Brown’s bond was set at $100,000 and Moore’s total bond was set at $120,000 during their bond hearings on March 17 at the Markham Courthouse.
Sheriff Dart reminds the public that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the Government in a court of law.