Toledo Woman Indicted for Purchasing Firearm for Felon
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that a Toledo woman was charged in a two-count indictment for purchasing a firearm for a convicted felon.
Taylor Elysse Corggens, 29, was charged with making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and providing a false statement to federal agents.
According to court documents, on May 24, 2021, Corggens and Lamondre Gaston, 32, of Toledo, were observed arriving together and entering a licensed federal firearms dealer in Oregon, Ohio. Court documents state that once inside the store, video footage depicts Gaston pointing out a firearm and handling it. Gaston is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of aggravated assault and heroin trafficking in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas.
It is alleged that after Gaston handled the firearm, Corggens then completed the transaction to purchase the weapon. During the transaction, Corggens filled out ATF Form 4473, which asks the buyer: “Are you the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm(s) listed on this form…” and specifically states in bold, “Warning: You are not the actual transferee/buyer if you are acquiring the firearm(s) on behalf of another person. If you are not the actual transferee/buyer, the licensee cannot transfer the firearm(s) to you.”
Court records state that Corggens checked the box, indicating that she was the buyer of the weapon.
On June 8, 2021, Gaston was arrested by officers with the Toledo Police Department and was found to be in possession of the weapon that Corggens had purchased. Federal law enforcement authorities interviewed Corggens regarding the incident, and it is alleged that Corggens indicated to authorities that Gaston did not accompany her, Corggens, to purchase the weapon.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations and the Toledo Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert N. Melching.
