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Ringleader and key co-defendant sentenced for Beckley-to-Philidelphia firearms trafficking conspiracy
Bisheem Jones, also known as “Bosh,” 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced for leading a scheme to traffic over 140 firearms from southern West Virginia to Philadelphia
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Ringleader and key co-defendant sentenced for Beckley-to-Philidelphia firearms trafficking conspiracy
Court Generic(MGN)
By Kassidy Brown
Published: Sep. 1, 2023 at 1:33 PM MST
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - Bisheem Jones, also known as “Bosh,” 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced for leading a scheme to traffic over 140 firearms from southern West Virginia to Philadelphia to 25 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
Shyheem Woodard-Smith, also known as “Peanut” and “Nut,” 23, of Philadelphia, was also sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for his key role in the gun trafficking conspiracy.
According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, a federal jury found Jones guilty after evidence at trial proved he oversaw a conspiracy that recruited straw purchasers in the Beckley area to buy firearms that Jones and his co-conspirators took back to Philadelphia to sell for profit. On December 16, 2022, Jones was convicted of interstate travel with the intent to deal in firearms without a license, conspiracy to travel interstate with the intent to deal in firearms without a license and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Court documents said that around June 2020 to approximately July 2021, Jones and his accomplices trafficked over 140 firearms, and over 50 of those firearms were recovered at crime scenes. The crimes were primarily in Philadelphia, and were connected to two homicides, crimes of domestic violence, and other violent crimes.
“Bisheem Jones brought deadly and tragic results to the streets of Philadelphia and elsewhere,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Today’s sentence reflects the harm Jones caused and offers a warning to others who seek to traffic in firearms illegally and bring violence to our communities.”
In the conspiracy, Jones was responsible for selecting the firearms that straw purchasers bought and provided the money to purchase them. He also paid the straw purchasers with money or drugs in order for them to buy the firearms. Straw purchasers connected to Jones falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that they were the buyers of the firearms when they knew they were purchasing them for Jones and his interstate gun trafficking conspiracy.
“ATF’s mission is to protect the public by keeping firearms out of the hands of violent criminals,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division, which includes West Virginia. “One of the ways we accomplish our mission is by identifying the sources of crime guns and taking swift action before those firearms can be used to cause harm. This case demonstrates how criminals illegally acquire firearms, and how ATF and our law enforcement partners work together to disrupt these networks. I commend the investigative team and the United States Attorney’s Office for their diligent work and for their commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
The federal money laundering statutes Jones violated served to significantly increase his federal prison sentence. This investigation is unique in that agents were able to identify financial transactions that promoted Jones’ firearms trafficking enterprise and violated federal money laundering statutes. In particular, from approximately June 2020 to approximately July 2021, Jones used peer-to-peer payment apps to transfer money to various individuals in Philadelphia and Beckley. Those funds were ultimately used to purchase firearms in the Southern District of West Virginia. The firearms were then transported from Beckley to Philadelphia, where they were sold for a profit. That money was used to purchase more firearms in the Beckley area. Jones used his bank account to pay the straw purchasers and deposit proceeds from selling the firearms in Philadelphia.
“The investigative prowess of IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners disrupted the financial flow of funds supporting illegal firearms trafficking,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Washington, D.C. Field Office. “IRS-CI is committed to the dismantling of criminal networks that pose a threat to public safety.”
Woodard-Smith’s role was described as “instrumental” to the firearm trafficking conspiracy as he would travel from Philadelphia to Beckley with Jones to oversee purchases at Beckley-area stores, and he encouraged co-conspirators to remove serial numbers on the firearms before putting them on the street.
Woodard-Smith pleaded guilty to interstate travel with the intent to engage in dealing firearms without a license.
Jones and Woodard-Smith are the final defendants to be sentenced in this case. Woodard-Smith is among 18 defendants who pleaded guilty in connection with the firearms trafficking.
Those other convicted defendants include:
- Denise Johnson, 26, of Beckley, sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to travel interstate with the intent to engage in dealing firearms without a license.
- Donte Webster, 23, of Beckley, sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for making false statements in acquisition of firearms.
- Derrick Woodard, also known as “D,” 27, of Philadelphia, sentenced to two years in prison for interstate travel with the intent to engage in dealing firearms without a license.
- Terri Lawhorn, 29, Fayetteville, sentenced to two years in prison for making false statements in acquisition of firearms.
- Hassan Abdullah, also known as “San,” 28, of Philadelphia, sentenced to one year and six months in prison for interstate travel with the intent to engage in dealing firearms without a license.
- Maurice Johnson, 37, of Mount Hope, sentenced to one year in prison for interstate travel with the intent to engage in dealing firearms without a license; making false statements in acquisition of firearms.
- Brandon Lawson, 33, Oak Hill, sentenced to nine months in prison for transferring a firearm to an out-of-state resident.
