A 65-year-old Fort Mill resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury following allegations that he illegally purchased a firearm for another person, a practice commonly known as a “straw purchase.”
According to the Department of Justice, Gregory L. Tischuk faces federal charges stemming from a transaction at a large retail outlet in April 2024. Federal prosecutors allege that Tischuk falsified information on a Firearms Transaction Record, specifically Form 4473.
Under federal law, any individual purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer must complete Form 4473. A critical component of this document requires the buyer to affirm, under penalty of perjury, that they are the actual transferee or buyer of the firearm. The form explicitly warns that purchasing a firearm on behalf of someone else is a federal crime.
Investigators claim that while Tischuk checked the box indicating he was purchasing the weapon for himself, he was actually acquiring it for another individual.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Tischuk has since been released on bond, but he faces significant penalties if convicted in federal court. The statutory maximum for the offense includes:
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Imprisonment: Up to 10 years in federal prison.
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Fines: A financial penalty of up to $250,000.
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Supervision: Up to three years of supervised release following the completion of a prison sentence.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon.
This indictment comes amid a heightened federal focus on illegal firearm transfers. Law enforcement agencies emphasize that straw purchases are a primary avenue for placing weapons into the hands of individuals who are legally prohibited from possessing them, such as convicted felons or those with certain domestic violence protection orders.
Tischuk’s case will proceed through the U.S. District Court as prosecutors work to present evidence regarding the intent behind the April 2024 purchase.
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