Convicted felon pleads guilty to using ‘straw purchaser’ to traffic at least 20 firearms into CT

A convicted felon has pleaded guilty to using a straw purchaser to obtain at least 20 guns that he reportedly trafficked into Connecticut and sold to individuals who were not supposed to have them.

Tyree Thomas, 39, of Bridgeport pleaded guilty to crossing state lines with the intent to engage in the unlawful dealing of firearms during a hearing Monday in federal court in New Haven, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

According to federal officials, Thomas has multiple felony convictions on his record that prohibit him from having guns or ammunition. Between August 2021 and March 2022, he reportedly traveled to Georgia multiple times and used a straw purchaser to obtain “at least” 20 guns, officials said.

A straw purchaser is someone with a clean record who buys a gun for an individual who is unable to pass a background check to purchase firearms.

Federal officials said Thomas reportedly brought the firearms back to Connecticut, where he sold them to individuals who either did not have a license to have them or were barred from having guns because of a prior felony conviction.

Several of the guns have been recovered, including two that were tied to homicides, officials said.

Based on the charge, Thomas will face a maximum of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced. He is free on a $100,000 bond while he awaits sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.