A man responsible for several illegal guns recovered at crime scenes across Texas has been sentenced to four years in prison.
Jonathan Ludlow of Aledo was convicted and has now been sent to federal prison for selling firearms to unlicensed dealers, U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham announced.
Ludlow, 48, a federally licensed firearms dealer, pleaded guilty in January to charges of conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license, falsifying statements to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and possession of an unregistered silencer, the announcement states.
In his plea, Ludlow admitted selling large amounts of firearms, including AR-15 style rifles, to unlicensed associates with the knowledge they intended to resell the guns for profit.
Romello Harris and Christopher Meza, two of Ludlow’s associates, pleaded guilty to conspiring with him to sell firearms without licenses. Harris was sentenced in May to 37 months in federal prison while Meza awaits sentencing.
According to the Department of Justice, Ludlow and his associates conducted the sales in several locations throughout DFW and dealt only in cash.
Prosecutors said Harris and Meza lied on ATF form 4473 that they were the “actual transferees” of the firearms to conceal their crimes.
Ludlow admitted to lying about the types of firearms sold, the dates and locations of the transactions, and details regarding his associates’ compliance with background checks, the announcement states.
ATF agents executed a search warrant on Ludlow’s home in July 2021 and confiscated more than 100 firearms and approximately 10 unregistered silencers.
During Ludlow’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors claimed: that “many of the guns recovered at crime scenes across the state of Texas could be traced back to him.”
Prosecutors added that some of the guns Ludlow sold illegally were found in the hands of criminals, while others found their way out of the country.
“Federal firearm laws are designed to keep guns out of the wrong hands,” said Meacham. “Responsible licensed gun dealers are often the first line of defense in this endeavor. Licensed dealers who know their buyers intend to immediately resell their guns – quite possibly to individuals who cannot pass a background check – must not complete that sale. Doing so could have deadly serious consequences. ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will not allow people like Mr. Ludlow to flout laws that save lives.”
Under federal law, licensed firearm dealers are prohibited from selling guns to unlicensed dealers. Ludlow has since surrendered his federal firearms license.
The ATF’s Dallas Field Office investigated the case against Ludlow.
ATF Dallas Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II described Ludlow’s sentencing as a “good day” for ATF and its partners.
“Mr. Ludlow, a federal firearms licensee, knew the laws and intentionally skirted them. He has put hundreds of guns on the streets of the DFW metroplex and beyond. Because of his recklessness, we will continue to relive his crimes for years as more of his crime guns are recovered,” Boshek added.