Federal prosecutors in Nevada have accused an Antioch man with felony convictions of illegally purchasing guns by paying a friend to buy the guns for him, court records show.
The scheme was easy to discover, according to the criminal complaint, because in one instance the Antioch resident was seen handing over “a stack of cash” to the other man inside a Las Vegas gun store.
Now, Daryl Caldwell Jr., of Antioch, and James Kelley are facing charges of illegal acquisition of a firearm. Caldwell, arrested earlier this month in the East Bay, was released from jail while the case is pending, court records show.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives initiated the investigation after receiving a tip that Kelley had purchased 12 pistols over a 26-day period, according to the complaint. Agents were later able to track down video surveillance from various gun stores around Nevada that showed Kelley making the purchases. In at least two instances, Caldwell accompanied him, and in other cases the two communicated by phones, prosecutors allege.
During one purchase in July, Caldwell was caught on video handing over an estimated $2,489 in cash to Kelley as he purchased three pistols, according to the complaint. Prosecutors say that Caldwell is a “multi-convicted felon” and on top of that, has a restraining order that prohibits him from possessing firearms.