Columbia Man Sentenced in NJ Court for Transporting Stole Guns

A Columbia man was sentenced Monday in federal court in New Jersey to more than six years in prison for transporting stolen firearms from gun shops in Tennessee and North Carolina, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Bassir Baxter, 40, had previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to one count of transporting stolen firearms in interstate commerce. 

Authorities say on March 7, 2012, Baxter along with 20-year-old Cedric Reddick; and Reddick's father, Bevan Holston, 41, all of whom are from Columbia, drove from South Carolina to the apartment of Terrell James, 23, of Newark, N.J., to illegally sell firearms, 

Baxter, Reddick and Holston entered the apartment, where there were about 10 other individuals, and displayed firearms on the floor for the potential buyers, according to the release.

Twenty-two guns, including semi-automatic handguns and military-style assault rifles, were recovered, prosecutors said. Twenty guns had been from a gun shop in Bristol, Tenn., and two were stolen from a gun shop in Boone, N.C.

All four men were charged with transporting stolen firearms in interstate commerce, according to a release.

Baxter was sentenced to 75 months in prison and two years of probation. 

Two of the three co-defendants have been sentenced. Holston was sentenced in May to 10 years in prison and James was sentenced last week to six months in prison.

Reddick is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23.