ATLANTA - Jaleel Akeem Wulu, also known as “Trill Castro," and Javaree Malique Williams have been sentenced for lying to a federal firearms licensee during the purchase of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit that offense. The conspiracy involved multiple illegal firearms purchases from several firearms dealers.
“Firearms trafficking continues to pose an ever-increasing risk to the safety and security of our communities," said U.S. Attorney John A. Horn. “These two defendants made it possible for multiple firearms to be transferred out of Georgia into other states and ultimately into the hands of criminals, jeopardizing the safety of any number of citizens."
“One of ATF’s top priorities is to deny criminals access to firearms and protect the rights of law abiding citizens. These two offenders illegally trafficked firearms that subsequently could have been used against our citizens and our communities; ATF takes this very seriously," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Wayne Dixie.
According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court: On March 22, 2017, Wulu and Williams pleaded guilty to the offense of conspiring to make false statements to purchase multiple firearms from several federally licensed firearms dealers, and a second charge of lying to a federally licensed firearms dealer to purchase a firearm. Specifically, Williams admitted to ATF agents that beginning in or about December 2014, through Nov. 28, 2015, he purchased 26 firearms, all but one of which he sold to Wulu. Wulu gave Williams the money for his firearms purchases, and he sometimes traveled to Atlanta to accompany Williams to the firearms dealer locations to choose the guns. Wulu was then an aspiring rapper known as “Trill Castro," who made music video recordings in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers recovered multiple firearms in Maryland and Ohio, which were purchased by Williams for Wulu. Wulu had lived in both these states during the conspiracy. Several of the guns were also recovered at crime scenes fairly close to the date that Williams and Wulu purchased them, including the following recoveries:
* On Nov. 15, 2015, Maryland State Patrol (MSP) officers recovered a Glock,.40 caliber pistol in Millersville, Maryland, that Williams purchased in Georgia from Adventure Outdoors on Aug. 12, 2015. MSP officers stopped a driver for speeding and arrested him after discovery of the firearm and illegal drugs in the vehicle;
* On Jan. 27, 2016, the Prince George’s, Maryland, County Police Department (MCPD) recovered a Taurus,.40 caliber pistol in Forestville, Maryland, that Williams purchased in Georgia from Team 88 Enterprises 86 days earlier on Nov. 2, 2015. The MCPD had stopped a vehicle and illegal drugs were recovered during a search of the car. A firearm was found hidden in the passenger’s sweatshirt and both of the occupants of the car were arrested;
* On February 5, 2016, the Prince George’s Community College Campus Police recovered a Taurus, 9mm caliber pistol in Largo, Maryland, that Williams purchased from Team 88 Enterprises in Georgia on Nov. 2, 2015. College campus police had responded to a fight in the school campus parking lot and arrested the subject who possessed the firearm purchased by Williams;
* Also on February 5, 2016, the Cleveland, Ohio, Police Department recovered an Extar,.223 caliber pistol from Wulu in Warrensville, Ohio, that Williams purchased from Team 88 Enterprises in Georgia on Nov. 28, 2015. Local police had responded to Wulu’s residence after family members reported that he was a danger to himself. Wulu was in possession of the firearm and his family requested that police take custody of it;
* On July 11, 2016, the MCPD recovered a Taurus, 9mm pistol that Williams purchased from Adventure Outdoors on Aug. 12, 2015. The firearm was recovered from a suspect arrested during the MCPD’s investigation of a burglary of an apartment; and
* On July 13, 2016, MCPD recovered another Taurus, 9mm pistol that Williams purchased from Arrowhead Pawn on July 31, 2015, in Jonesboro, Georgia. The MCPD were conducting a burglary interdiction operation when they encountered a 17-year-old suspect gambling in public and in possession of the concealed firearm and arrested him.
Jaleel Akeem Wulu, also known as “Trill Castro," age 23, of Bowie, Maryland, and Javaree Malique Williams, age 24, of Fairburn, Georgia, each received sentences of two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr., prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
