Leader of firearms straw purchasing conspiracy sentenced to 6 years in prison

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The leader of a large-scale gun trafficking operation was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 72 months in prison.

Keith Davenport III, 22, of Columbus, and five others were indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024 for conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by making false statements on federal firearms forms. At Davenport's direction, he and the others conspired to use stolen credit card information to place orders online for straw purchase firearms.

According to court documents, as the leader of the conspiracy, Davenport obtained the stolen credit card information, ordered the firearms online, recruited straw purchasers and then helped arrange for the re-sale of the firearms on the back end.

Davenport and the others were responsible for at least 42 guns being transferred illegally, and the scheme involved the attempted fraudulent purchase of more than 200 firearms. One of the guns was found shortly after purchase when Columbus police SWAT officers executed a narcotics trafficking search warrant. Another handgun was found on an individual illegally present in the United States during a 2022 traffic stop.

The defendant also has pending charges in Medina County, Ohio, that pertain to him trying to break into a post office and involved him allegedly assaulting two police officers and a hospital security officer.

While on bond in this instant case, Davenport was charged with domestic violence and assault and as a result the Court revoked his bond.

Davenport pleaded guilty in this case in April 2025 to the firearms conspiracy and to aggravated identity fraud.

Dominick S. Gerace, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Thomas A. Greco, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys S. Courter Shimeall and Damoun Delaviz are representing the United States in this case.

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