Erhan John Er, a former cross-border truck driver based in Sarasota, was sentenced on April 2 to four years and three months in federal prison for his role in an international firearms trafficking conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven handed down the sentence after Er pleaded guilty on December 19, 2024, according to United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about illegal firearms crossing the border and their use in crimes. Authorities say that such trafficking schemes can have significant impacts on public safety both in the United States and Canada.
Court documents show that between February and September 2022, Er purchased a total of 28 guns from dealers in Sarasota and Naples, Florida. He then transported these firearms across the Canadian border and sold them to a Canadian co-conspirator for reimbursement of expenses plus $1,000 Canadian dollars per gun.
Canadian investigators later recovered ten of these weapons at crime scenes in Ontario and Quebec. The serial numbers had been removed but were restored by investigators who traced them back to Er's purchases.
"Er falsely claimed to gun dealers that he was buying guns for himself, only to smuggle the guns into Canada, where they were used in multiple crimes," said U.S. Attorney Kehoe. "Working together with our local, federal, and international partners, this scheme was uncovered and Er has been brought to justice." OPP Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau said: "This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of cross border partnerships in protecting our communities. The OPP remains committed to working closely with our Canadian and U.S. law enforcement partners to disrupt organized criminal networks, enhance public safety and prevent illegal firearms from crossing our shared border."
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; several regional police services from both countries; as well as support from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
