Dummerston Resident Implicated in Major Firearms Trafficking Operation

Investigators have identified around 51 firearms believed to have been illegally trafficked.

Authorities in Concord, N.H., have reported the emergence of a significant firearms trafficking network that spans across New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Canada. This investigation has resulted in guilty pleas from five individuals and new charges against eight additional suspects involved in the illegal transfer of firearms through the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation.

Erin Creegan, the United States Attorney for New Hampshire, announced that a federal grand jury has indicted eight new defendants linked to this international firearms trafficking operation. The investigation has revealed that individuals associated with the network attempted to acquire firearms from licensed dealers, which were then funneled through Vermont and New York before reaching Canada.

Investigators have identified around 51 firearms believed to have been illegally trafficked, with some recovered at crime scenes in Canada involving serious offenses like kidnapping and attempted murder. Justin Jackson, a 46-year-old resident of Dummerston, has been central to this case. As he was barred from purchasing weapons himself, he allegedly coordinated with others to obtain firearms for members of the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation.

Jackson entered a guilty plea on March 24 to multiple charges, including conspiracy to conduct straw purchases and firearms trafficking. His sentencing is set for June 26. Similarly, Melissa Longe, 44, of Dummerston, pleaded guilty on February 4 for her role in the conspiracy, with her sentencing scheduled for August 14. Dustin Tuttle, 25, from Keene, N.H., also pleaded guilty to similar charges on January 5, and his sentencing date is July 16. Additionally, Caleb Wilcott, 23, of Chesterfield, N.H., admitted to making false statements during the acquisition of a firearm, with sentencing on August 3.

The indictment from May 6 includes eight residents from the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation, who are accused of participating in straw purchasing and firearms trafficking. Those charged are Jonathan Hart, Io-Rateka Swamp, Ranonkwatseronhawi Gibson, Tayson Terrance, Nash Oakes, Blade Oakes, Montana Cook, and Conrad Oakes. Investigators have detained Gibson, Terrance, Oakes, and Cook as part of a coordinated law enforcement operation, while Hart, Swamp, and Blade Oakes remain at large.

The comprehensive investigation involved numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations, alongside Canadian authorities. Creegan emphasized that the network exploited legal gun sales to funnel firearms into Canada, highlighting the dangers posed by such operations to community safety.

The maximum penalties for the charges include up to 25 years in prison for conspiracy to commit straw purchases and shorter terms for related firearms offenses. Sentences will be determined by a federal district court based on established legal guidelines.