An Alaska man was sentenced Wednesday to two and a half years in federal prison for illegally purchasing firearms in Alaska and trafficking them to Sacramento, California, where they ultimately fell into the hands of gang members and convicted felons.
Cornelius Smith, 34, will also be required to serve three years of supervised release and complete 120 hours of community service following his prison term.
According to court documents, between February 2021 and April 2022, Smith acquired 28 firearms through purchases from both private sellers and federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs) in Alaska. Federal law mandates that individuals purchasing firearms from FFLs complete an ATF Form 4473, affirming they are the actual buyer and not acquiring the firearm on behalf of another person.
READ: Man Dies Following Argument And Shooting In Zephyrhills
In June 2021 alone, Smith purchased 17 firearms from FFLs in Alaska, falsely attesting on each Form 4473 that he was the actual transferee.
Smith subsequently traveled to Sacramento, California, declaring his luggage as containing “shooting equipment.” Just ten days after one such trip in June 2021, a firearm he had recently purchased was recovered near Sacramento. In total, 14 of the 28 firearms Smith purchased have been recovered in California, predominantly in the Sacramento area during criminal investigations, including those involving attempted homicides, robberies, and gang-related shootings. Many of these recovered weapons were found to have been modified with large capacity magazines and/or automatic firing capabilities. The whereabouts of the remaining 14 firearms remain unknown.
During the period of the trafficking, Smith received approximately $9,000 in payments from various family members and associates based in Sacramento. These payments often corresponded to the purchase price of the firearms.
READ: 2 Florida Men With California Connection Face Life In Prison For Meth, Fentanyl Trafficking
In April 2022, law enforcement searched Smith’s residence in Alaska and discovered dozens of empty gun boxes with serial numbers matching firearms he purchased in 2021. However, none of the actual firearms were located at his home.
Smith was indicted on February 23, 2024, and convicted on November 1, 2024, following a five-day jury trial in Anchorage. He was found guilty on 11 of 12 counts related to firearms trafficking.
“Mr. Smith deliberately purchased firearms in Alaska for the sole purpose of illegally trafficking them to prohibited individuals in California, and those firearms directly contributed to gun and gang violence in and around the Sacramento area,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Let this conviction and sentence highlight that the straw purchase of firearms in Alaska – especially for the purpose of supplying the firearms to violent criminals – will be prosecuted.”
READ: One Hillsborough County Firefighter Injured Battling Tampa Townhouse Fire
The ATF Anchorage Field Office conducted the investigation with significant assistance from multiple California law enforcement agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Police Department, San Francisco Police Department, Folsom Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, Daly City Police Department, Vacaville Police Department, and Citrus Heights Police Department.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
