Missouri Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Buying 27 Guns Recovered at Crime Scenes in Three States
ST. LOUIS / Wednesday, September 2, 2026 – A man who was the original purchaser of 27 guns that were later recovered at crime scenes in three states was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison.
Lamondre Haynes, 33, bought 27 firearms that were recovered by law enforcement in Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri while in the possession of individuals being arrested for drug violations, violent assaults and gun possession crimes. Haynes identified himself as the “actual transferee/buyer” of each gun on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Form 4473 - Firearms Transaction Record. Among those purchases were two Glock pistols Haynes bought on April 2, 2025, while accompanied by a convicted felon from Illinois. At least some of the cash for the purchase came from the felon. On May 1, 2025, Haynes bought two Glock pistols and two AK-style pistols from two different stores. One of the Glock pistols was recovered in Columbia, Illinois after being used in a carjacking during which the victim was shot.
Twenty-nine of the guns have not been recovered.
“Twenty-seven firearms purchased by one individual ended up in the hands of law enforcement across three states,” said Special Agent in Charge Bernard “Butch” Hansen, of the ATF Kansas City Field Division. “That kind of proliferation demonstrates how quickly illegally diverted firearms can spread into communities and contribute to violent crime. ATF is committed to identifying those who fuel the illegal firearms market and working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold them accountable.”
Haynes, of Ferguson, Missouri, pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Contact
Robert Patrick, Public Affairs Officer, robert.patrick@usdoj.gov.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri
