Hoosier State Today

Kayvonn Bailey, a 26-year-old from Indianapolis, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison and three years of supervised release. This follows his guilty plea for making a false statement to a licensed firearms importer.

Court documents reveal that on September 2, 2022, Bailey purchased a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol from a federally licensed dealer in Beech Grove, Indiana. Surveillance footage captured him at the store with another individual. Bailey falsely claimed on federal firearms transaction forms that he was the actual buyer of the firearm. However, he had purchased it on behalf of the other person—a practice known as "straw purchasing." After leaving the store, Bailey handed over the gun to this individual.

Straw purchasing involves someone legally allowed to buy a gun falsely stating they are buying it for themselves when it's intended for another person who is often prohibited from making such purchases.

On October 20, 2022, the same firearm was found during a traffic stop in Pennsylvania. The driver stated he was not a U.S. citizen; many non-citizens are restricted from purchasing or possessing firearms based on their immigration status. The driver informed investigators that Bailey could obtain firearms for him and accompanied him to the Beech Grove store for this purchase.

Bailey admitted to investigators that he had straw-purchased and sold thirty-six firearms illegally. In May 2023, following these illegal purchases, he was convicted in state court of domestic battery and intimidation using a firearm.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana stated: “Unscrupulous individuals who illegally put guns in the hands of folks who have no lawful business being armed help fuel gun violence in Indiana and across the country.” He added that Bailey's actions demonstrated danger both through illegal trafficking and subsequent domestic violence.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon imposing the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering trust within communities and supporting organizations preventing violence.

Additionally, it falls under the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named after Officer Breann Leath of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department who died responding to a domestic disturbance call. This initiative focuses resources on domestic violence offenders illegally possessing firearms through collaboration among ATF, IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern Indiana.