Joshua Paul Stewart Turner and Noah Olen Fowler have been sentenced for their involvement in a conspiracy to straw-purchase a firearm. Turner, 25, from Summerville, and Fowler, 26, from Moncks Corner, were implicated in the scheme where Fowler purchased a firearm on behalf of Turner, who was prohibited from possessing one.
The investigation revealed that Fowler falsely certified on the ATF Form 4473 that he was buying the firearm for himself. Evidence showed that Turner provided information about the desired firearm and paid Fowler via CashApp. At the time of purchase, Fowler was employed as a correctional officer at the Berkeley County Detention Center.
"Straw purchases undermine our efforts to keep firearms out of the hands of those legally prohibited from possessing them," stated U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. "We’ll continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute individuals who attempt to circumnavigate the proper procedure to purchase firearms."
ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones emphasized that "straw purchasing is a dangerous tactic that circumvents our laws and puts guns in the hands of prohibited individuals." She added that both parties involved face serious consequences as threats to public safety.
Reid Davis, acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia field office, noted, "Weapons in the hands of those prohibited from possessing them are a direct threat to public." He highlighted that these sentences demonstrate the serious repercussions of violating federal firearms laws.
United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Turner to 20 months' imprisonment followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. Fowler received a time-served sentence with an additional three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Federal sentencing does not include parole.
The case was prosecuted under new criminal provisions from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act signed into law in June 2022. The act targets unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
The investigation involved collaboration between several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI Columbia field office, and Berkeley County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower led the prosecution.
