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Atlanta federal firearms dealer sold guns to convicted felons

More than 180 firearms purchased from the business have been recovered from crime scenes from multiple states.

ATLANTA -- A federally licensed firearms dealer in Atlanta has been sentenced to one year of probation and 40 hours of community service for falsifying her business records, which allowed convicted felons to purchase guns.

Dawn Anderson, a/k/a “Prestige,” was doing business as Distincvision, LLC, a/k/a “Liquidation Outlet Center.” Shawn Lewis, her employee and co-defendant, was previously sentenced for his role in the offense.

“This firearms dealer and her company made it possible for criminals to obtain dangerous weapons by allowing felons to buy firearms through straw purchasers,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Federal firearms dealers who violate the law and endanger our communities by enabling straw purchasers to unlawfully obtain guns for criminals will be prosecuted, lose their federal firearms licenses, and businesses.”

According to an open records search, from Nov. 25, 2014 through Feb. 11, 2018, investigators recovered more than 180 firearms purchased from Anderson's business from crime scenes in multiple states, including Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington, DC, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, California, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Anderson's business was located in the Greenbriar Discount Mall. She was required to maintain records that included the buyer’s name, home address and date of birth. The required forms warn “any person who transfers a firearm to any person he/she knows or has reasonable cause to believe is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm violates the law, even if the transferor/seller has complied with the federal background check requirements.”

Federal agents began investigating Anderson after receiving information that felons were able buy firearms after informing Anderson and Lewis they were convicted felons.

On May 15, 2017, agents seized 280 firearms and more than 69,000 rounds of ammunition during the search. Anderson forfeited all of the seized firearms and ammunition and the business was forced to close.

Lewis was previously sentenced to six months of probation and 40 hours of community service.

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