Lanear Finch, a 25-year-old resident of Gary, Indiana, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. The sentence was issued by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody after Finch pleaded guilty to conspiracy to making a false statement related to the purchase of a firearm, according to an announcement from Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Court documents state that between November 2019 and January 2021, Finch organized a straw purchasing operation with an accomplice. During this period, he recruited individuals to buy firearms on his behalf from federally licensed dealers in Northwest Indiana. Authorities report that approximately 17 firearms were acquired through these illegal purchases.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation into the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski prosecuted the matter.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that coordinates law enforcement agencies and community members to reduce violent crime and gun violence across neighborhoods. On May 26, 2021, the Department introduced a strategy aimed at strengthening PSN by focusing on building trust within communities, supporting organizations working to prevent violence, setting targeted enforcement priorities, and evaluating results.
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