Opinion ID: 76075
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Ortiz Purchased Seventeen Guns

Text: 4 At the time of his offenses, Ortiz was a private in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Ortiz legally could purchase firearms in the State of Georgia for himself. Ortiz made a total of seven sales transactions with two pawn shops in Hinesville, Georgia, resulting in his aggregate purchase of seventeen pistols. Prior to each purchase, he completed an ATF Form 4473, answering yes to question 9a: Are you the actual buyer of the firearm indicated on this form? The question continues: [i]f you answer `no' to this question the dealer cannot transfer the firearm to you. (See Important Notice 1.)  Important Notice 1 warns that [a]ny individual who is not buying the firearm for himself or herself or as a gift, but who completes the form, violates the law. 5 On the following dates, Ortiz purchased the listed firearms and completed ATF Forms 4473, as described above, which forms were kept on file at the relevant pawn shop: Mr. Cash Pawnshop 6 August 1, 2000: Intratec, model AB-10, 9 MM pistol, SN A051098 7 August 23, 2000: Hi-Point, model C9MM, 9MM pistol, SN P065627 8 October 3, 2000: Hi-Point, model C9MM, 9MM pistol, SN P065541 9 Hi-Point, model CF380, .380 caliber pistol, SN P741351 10 Hi-Point, model CF380, .380 caliber pistol, SN P741305 11 October 13, 2000: Hi-Point, model CF380, .380 caliber pistol, SN P741355 12 Hi-Point, model CF380, .380 caliber pistol, SN P741306 13 Hi-Point, model JC40, .40 caliber pistol, SN 112014 14 Hi-Point, model JC40, .40 caliber pistol, SN 112013 15 Super Pawn July 28, 2000: Lorcin, model L380, .380 caliber pistol, SN 445386 16 Lorcin, model L380, .380 caliber pistol, SN 552608 17 October 3, 2000: Jennings, model Jennings Nine, 9MM pistol, SN 13046098 18 Intratec, model AB-10, 9MM pistol, SN A054690 19 October 13, 2000: Lorcin, model L380,.380 caliber pistol, SN 549756 20 Lorcin, model L380, .380 caliber pistol, SN 556690 21 Lorcin, model L380, .380 caliber pistol, SN 556693 22 Lorcin, model L380, .380 caliber pistol, SN 556691 23 When an unlicensed person purchases two or more pistols and/or revolvers within a five-business day period, the licensed firearms dealer (a) must complete an ATF Form 3310.4 with information about the purchaser and the firearms sold and (b) submit it to the National Tracing Center and State or local authorities, as provided on the form. 24 Upon receiving the ATF Forms 3310.4 reporting multiple gun sales to Ortiz, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) had suspicions as to whether Ortiz was reselling the firearms due to the large quantity of pistols purchased, the purchase of multiples of the same model of pistol, and the fact that the pistol models purchased were low cost. (The ATF indicated that low cost guns are often sold at a much higher cost and thus allow for a greater profit upon resale.) In addition, Georgia is considered a source area due to the ease with which handguns may be purchased. Because Ortiz was an army soldier, the ATF notified Fort Stewart about its suspicions and requested assistance. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) informed the ATF that Ortiz had not registered any firearms, despite a requirement that soldiers who reside on post are required to register any weapons in their possession. The CID obtained a search warrant from a military magistrate. 25 On November 14, 2000, CID Agent Hickey and ATF Special Agent Louis Valoze conducted a warrant-based search of Ortiz's quarters and found no firearms. The search produced sales receipts, one dated August 23, 2000, and three dated October 13, 2000, from the pawnshops for gun purchases, for full metal jacket purchases and for bus and plane transportation between Savannah and New York City. 1