Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Woman Pleads Guilty to Case Involving Guns Recovered at Homicide Scene
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A woman who purchased eight firearms in 34 days, including two that were recovered at a homicide scene in Alexandria, pleaded guilty today to providing false statements to investigators.
According to court documents, Edna Aminata Conteh, 22, turned 21 years-old in May 2016. Between May 20 and June 23, 2016, Conteh purchased the following eight firearms:
|
Date, 2016 |
Type |
Status |
|
May 20 |
Kel-Tec, P11, 9mm pistol |
Recovered during execution of a search warrant in on July 30, 2016 |
|
May 31 |
Walther, PPS, 9mm pistol |
Recovered during traffic stop in Prince George’s County, Md., on Aug. 26, 2016 |
|
June 11 |
Taurus, 82, .38 Special revolver |
Not recovered |
|
June 13 |
Smith & Wesson, BG380, .380 pistol |
Recovered at homicide scene in Alexandria |
|
June 13 |
Smith & Wesson, M&P, .40 pistol |
Not recovered |
|
June 17 |
Walther, PK380, .380 pistol |
Not recovered |
|
June 18 |
Ruger, LC380, .380 pistol |
Not recovered |
|
June 23 |
Taurus, 85, .38 Special revolver |
Recovered at homicide scene in Alexandria |
During multiple interviews with ATF agents, Conteh made a number of materially false and misleading statements, including that all eight firearms were stolen from her vehicle. That statement was materially false and misleading because Conteh knew one of her friends (Individual 1) had accompanied her to at least one federal firearms licensee and sold the weapons to various individuals.
After the interview, agents learned that two of the firearms purchased by Conteh were recovered by the Alexandria Police Department (APD) at a homicide scene in north Old Town near the Braddock Road metro station. Agents later learned that law enforcement recovered two other firearms purchased by Conteh.
Conteh faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on March 23, 2018. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina A. Cuellar is prosecuting the case.
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 is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-283.