Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to more than one year in prison for using his girlfriend to making false statements when acquiring eight firearms between 2012 and 2016.

“Straw purchasing a firearm is a federal crime with serious consequences,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This case is representative of a focused effort here in EDVA to investigate and prosecute individuals who straw purchase and illegally traffick firearms. Once on the streets, straw purchased firearms often end up in the hands of prohibited persons like Toole, who are legally prohibited from obtaining and possessing firearms.”

According to court documents, Jeffrey Quinton Toole, 56, recruited his girlfriend Yolanda Lisa Stone, 47, to purchase eight firearms for him at federally licensed firearms dealers in the Richmond metropolitan area between 2012 and 2016. When purchasing these firearms, Stone falsely stated on forms she was legally required to complete that she was the actual purchaser of the firearms, when in fact, she was straw purchasing them for Toole. Toole sold three of the guns to Abdul Shahid Davis, who then sold them to an undercover New York City Police Detective. Toole kept four of the guns that were turned over to agents during the investigation, while one gun remains missing. Toole has been convicted of multiple felonies, including a 1991 conviction for making false statements on Virginia state firearms purchase forms.

“This case serves as another perfect example of why ATF will continue to vigorously pursue and arrest anyone involved in the trafficking of illegal firearms,” said Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division. “Falsifying forms for the purpose of purchasing a firearm is more than a mere paperwork violation—it’s a federal crime. These criminals are putting guns in the hands of serious criminals who pose a significant threat to the safety of our communities.”

Seven other defendants have earned felony convictions and have been sentenced for making false statements in connection with this scheme:

Two defendants have pleaded guilty to making false statements on firearm forms and are awaiting sentencing:

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Moore and Kenneth Simon prosecuted the case.

Special assistance in this investigation and prosecution was provided by the New York City Police Department and the New York County District Attorney’s Office.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:18-37, 56, 77, 86, 110, 120, 138, 154, and 3:19-cr-13.

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