Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Deovion Baker from Madison was sentenced to two years in federal prison. The sentence was given by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson after Baker pleaded guilty to directing another person to straw purchase firearms and receiving a firearm while under indictment.
Straw purchasing involves a buyer lying to obtain a gun for someone else, often because the actual buyer cannot pass a background check or wants to avoid association with the transaction. This practice undermines background check laws and fuels the illegal gun market.
In September 2023, Candice Patterson straw purchased two Glock handguns for Baker. One of these was found in January 2024 in Madison with a convicted felon and equipped with an illegal machinegun conversion device. The other was found shortly after in Springfield, Illinois, also with a convicted felon.
While under indictment for this purchase, Baker received another handgun, violating federal law. This firearm was seized during a traffic stop in November 2024.
Judge Peterson considered additional factors at sentencing, including Baker’s involvement in importing machinegun conversion devices from China. These devices can convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons capable of firing rapidly and uncontrollably.
Acting U.S. Attorney Elgersma stated that straw purchases hinder efforts to prevent firearms from reaching those legally prohibited from having them, emphasizing the danger posed when such weapons are converted into machineguns.
Despite Baker’s age, Judge Peterson denied probation due to the severity of his actions and concerns about future offenses. Co-defendant Patterson pleaded guilty to making false statements on firearms forms and received three years of probation.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including Madison Police Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection among others as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime through coordinated efforts against gun-related offenses.
