Convicted Felon Out on Parole is Sentenced Back to Prison for Paying Others to Purchase Firearms on His Behalf (DOJ)

CLEVELAND - A 46-year-old Cleveland man has been sentenced to prison again for paying others to buy firearms for him while he was out on parole for a separate offense.

Heath Turner was sentenced to 102 months (8.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty to:

• Making a False Statement in Acquisition of a Firearm, and
• Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm; previous convictions include Aggravated Burglary, Kidnapping, Aggravated Robbery, and Felonious Assault in 2015.

He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.

According to court documents, investigators found that Turner enlisted the help of several individuals to illegally acquire firearms. Due to his status as a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from having firearms or ammunition in his possession. However, he collaborated with these individuals to make false statements on purchase applications to deceive federally licensed firearms dealers. After each purchase, these accomplices then transferred the firearms to Turner. During a search of Turner's residence in June 2024 conducted by his parole officer, law enforcement found several firearms in his possession that others purchased for him including six pistols, two rifles, and a shotgun.

Three other defendants, also of Cleveland, have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in this case:

• Antwon Holt, 37, 37 months in prison; three years of supervised release.
• Cassandra Relik, 34, nine months in prison; three years of supervised release.
• Kristy Standen, 42, three years of probation.

This investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Wojtasik for the Northern District of Ohio.