Safetyvalue-2nd woman sentenced in straw purchase of gun used to kill Illinois officer and wound another

2025-05-08 01:46:08source:Johnathan Walkercategory:Markets

URBANA,Safetyvalue Ill. (AP) — An Indianapolis woman has been sentenced to four years in prison after taking part in the straw purchase of a handgun that was used to kill one central Illinois police officer and wound another during a shootout.

Ashantae Corruthers, 30, appeared at a sentencing hearing Tuesday in federal court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois said in a news release.

Corruthers was accused of engaging in a conspiracy to illegally purchase and transfer a firearm and conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct. She pleaded guilty in June 2023 and admitted that she conspired with Regina Lewis and Darion Lafayette to buy the gun in 2020 at an Indianapolis gun store for Lafayette, Lewis’ cousin, who was a convicted felon and could not legally buy a firearm.

Corruthers falsely certified on a form for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that she bought the gun for herself. She later reported to Indianapolis police in 2021 that the gun had been stolen.

Lafayette fatally shot Officer Christopher Oberheim and wounded Officer Jeffrey Creel on May 19, 2021, after they responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at an apartment complex in Champaign, about 135 miles (217 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.

Lafayette was also fatally shot.

Lewis, of Normal, Illinois, was sentenced in December 2023 to 8 1/2 years in prison for engaging in a conspiracy to buy and transfer a firearm and a conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct.

More:Markets

Recommend

Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches

Jamie Foxx's birthday dinner took a surprising turn on Friday the 13th.The "Collateral" actor was hi

Wolfgang Van Halen on recording new album in dad's studio: 'Feels like a rite of passage'

Wolfgang Van Halen knows he carries great expectations on his shoulders.The son of late guitar legen

Vivek Ramaswamy, the youngest GOP presidential candidate, wants civics tests for young voters 18 to 24

Millennial Republican and biotech CEO Vivek Ramaswamy is running as the youngest candidate in his pa