PHOENIX, Ariz. – Eric Celaya, 30, of Phoenix, was sentenced to eight months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Celaya pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024, to falsely stating he was the actual purchaser of firearms he bought on behalf of another individual, Jamie Tran.
On January 19, 2023, Celaya purchased two firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee in Tempe, completing the necessary ATF Form 4473 to certify himself as the buyer. However, Celaya soon provided the firearms to Tran, who later used them in two hate crime shootings targeting Jewish community members in California on February 15 and February 16, 2023. Although there was no evidence Celaya was aware of Tran’s intentions, his false representation on the purchase form violated federal law.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative designed to reduce violent crime by uniting law enforcement agencies with local communities. Reinforced by the Department of Justice in 2017, PSN seeks to target violent offenders through partnerships among federal, state, local, and tribal authorities.
The investigation was led by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Addison Owen from the District of Arizona.
