Full Breakdown
Cross-Border Firearms Trafficking Ring Dismantled
5/15/2026, 11:39:31 PM
Operation Overview
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire announced that a federal probe dismantled a firearms-trafficking network that moved at least 51 guns from New Hampshire and Vermont into Canada via the Akwesasne Mohawk reserves. Straw purchasers, cash deliveries and jet-ski crossings were used. Recovered weapons were linked to a Montreal kidnapping, a Guy St. shooting and violent crimes in Quebec.
Key Actors
Justin Jackson organized straw purchases after a domestic-violence conviction barred him from buying guns. He recruited Melissa Longe, Dustin Tuttle and Caleb Wilcott to acquire firearms; Doug Mulligan supplied a weapon. Eight Akwesasne residents—including Io-Rateka Swamp, Jonathan Hart, Conrad Oakes, Tayson Terrance, Ranonkwatseronhawi Gibson, Montana Cook, Blade Oakes and Nash Oakes—were charged with conspiracy to traffic firearms; three remain fugitives.
Timeline
Investigators traced the network to summer 2021. In August 2024 Montreal police recovered a Glock pistol linked to a Keene, N.H., purchase. ATF agents arrested four Akwesasne suspects on May 12 2024. Jackson and two co-purchasers pleaded guilty in March 2024. Sentencing for the five guilty pleas is set for June–August 2024.
Scope and Penalties
Federal charges have been filed against eight individuals, with five pleading guilty. The conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of 25 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and up to five years of supervised release. The operation is linked to 51 firearms recovered in Canada.
Implications
The guns were tied to kidnappings, attempted murders and gang shootings, showing the public-safety impact of cross-border trafficking. The case underscores intelligence sharing among the ATF, HSI, Sûreté du Québec and Canadian agencies—CBSA, CQDAAF and EILTA.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan warned that falsifying firearm-purchase forms endangers communities. ATF Special Agent Thomas Greco highlighted the investigation’s reliance on intelligence-driven policing and U.S.–Canadian cooperation. CBSA officials stressed their priority to intercept illicit firearms.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If you lie on the forms and purchase firearms on behalf of another person, you are not only committing a federal crime yourself, you are potentially placing weapons in the hands of violent criminals,” — Erin Creegan, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire
- “This case alleges a sophisticated firearms trafficking network that exploited New Hampshire gun dealers, straw purchasers and the international border to move dozens of firearms into Canada,” — Erin Creegan, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire
- “Identifying illicit movements and intercepting high-risk goods, such as firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition, are priorities for the CBSA in its enforcement efforts,” — Reimer, CBSA official
- “This investigation demonstrates the value of intelligence-driven policing and co-operative law-enforcement efforts.” — Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division
- “The individuals indicted in this case exploited both their access to firearms and the freedom to travel while undermining public safety in both countries.” — Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources uniformly cite 51 firearms, though one description refers to “dozens,” reflecting a minor phrasing variance. Sentencing outcomes for the guilty pleas remain pending, leaving final penalties undetermined.
