Ryan Freeman and Shaquayvis Asberry, both from the Atlanta area, pleaded guilty to conspiring to deal firearms without a license and related charges.
Freeman pleaded guilty on July 12. Asberry pled guilty on Wednesday. Colm F. Connolly, chief judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, accepted both pleas.
According to court filings and statements made in open court, on January 16, 2021, while patrolling Interstate 495, Delaware State Police officers stopped the defendants for a routine traffic violation. Officers found 10 guns during a search of their vehicle.
Further investigation by the the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms revealed various text messages, photographs, and financial records, all demonstrating the intent to illegally sell the weapons. The indictment also alleges that, with Asberry’s help, Freeman had been selling firearms without a license in Philadelphia since the summer of 2020.
“Illegally trafficking firearms threatens our communities by providing individuals prohibited from possessing guns with ready access to these weapons. Disrupting the unlawful interstate transfer of firearms requires cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement. I want to thank the Delaware State Police and ATF for their thorough investigation,” said David Weiss, U.S. Attorney for Delaware.
The case was investigated by the ATF with assistance from the Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe is prosecuting the case.
