Former Marine Admits Illegally Buying, Transferring Firearms

KINGSTON, NY — A former Marine Corps private from the Hudson Valley admitted to illegally obtaining firearms and transferring the weapons to someone in another state.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freeman said Rylan Peterson, 22, of Kingston, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring with others to unlawfully obtain firearms from a licensed dealer by making false statements, also known as “straw purchasing” firearms, and to unlawfully transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident.

Prosecutors said Peterson was then serving as a private first class in the Marine Corps at a base in North Carolina and admitted he entered into an agreement with Oryn McLeod for Peterson to acquire six semi-automatic handguns on behalf of McLeod and others.

According to authorities, Peterson then obtained the guns from North Carolina resident Mitchell Locke, who bought them from a licensed dealer in North Carolina, falsely representing at the time of the purchase that he was buying the weapons for himself.

McLeod paid Peterson for the guns, which Peterson took to New York from North Carolina, prosecutors said. McLeod was subsequently arrested for unlawful possession of two of the handguns.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 10, authorities said.

Peterson faces up to 25 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of five years.

Freedman said McLeod has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make false representations in connection with purchasing firearms. Locke is pending trial on the same charge.