Chicago Man Charged in Federal Court With Making False Statements While Acquiring Firearms

 CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been charged in federal court with making materially false statements in the acquisition of more than 20 firearms.

In 2019 and 2020 STOVALL BUCHANAN acquired 23 handguns and a rifle from suburban Chicago firearms dealers, falsely certifying on federal forms that he resided at a certain address in Chicago and, in connection with some of the purchases, that he was the actual buyer of the guns, according to a criminal complaint unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  In reality, Buchanan resided at a different Chicago address at the time of the purchases, and within months of the sales all but one of the 23 guns were no longer in his possession, the complaint states.  Four of the firearms were later discovered in the possession of other individuals, including one felon who was prohibited by federal law from possessing a gun, the complaint states.

Buchanan, 23, of Chicago, is charged with making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm.  The charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.  Buchanan made an initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez in Chicago.

The complaint was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Kristen de Tineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shy Jackson.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.