LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a Federal Firearms License and for distributing fentanyl pills. The government recommended a sentence of 33 months in prison.
“The intersection of unlicensed firearms trafficking and illicit narcotic distribution represents one of the most severe threats to public safety in our communities,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This case highlights the critical importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts to disrupt criminal networks before they can inflict further harm. Our office remains firmly committed to working alongside federal and local partners to hold individuals accountable who traffic in weapons, distribute deadly substances, and attempt to obstruct the justice system. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to remove these compounding threats from our streets and protect the public.”
“The suspect in this case sold multiple firearms without a Federal Firearms License (FFL), as well as, distributed narcotics,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alex Buenaventura, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Individuals who choose to operate in criminal activity will be prosecuted. This case serves as an example of that. ATF is grateful to have worked with our partners on this investigation to bring this dangerous conduct to justice.”
According to court documents, between October 4, 2024, and December 20, 2024, Ty’Shaun Meeks sold an AR-556 with a 30-round capacity empty magazine; a 100-round capacity empty drum style magazine; a 9mm caliber firearm with an 18-round capacity empty magazine; two machinegun conversion devices; a .40 caliber firearm with an empty 10-round capacity magazine; and a 9mm caliber firearm with an empty 24-round capacity magazine. He did not have a Federal Firearms License to sell firearms. Additionally, Meeks sold approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills in exchange for cash.
Meeks pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business of dealing or manufacturing firearms without a license and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. In addition to his prison sentence, United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva ordered Meeks to serve 4 years of supervised release.
The ATF investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister prosecuted the case.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Nevada — U.S. Department of Justice press release.