John Greven bought guns illegally so he could get ‘street cred’

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — The legal professional for a man anticipated to be sentenced Friday in federal courtroom for illegally selling guns and offering them to criminals claimed his client did so for the reason that he needed “street cred.”

John Greven, the attorney for 36-12 months-previous Josh Hones, wrote in a sentencing memorandum submitted Monday in the U.S. Northern District Court Of Ohio that his shopper was an aspiring rap artist and wanted to “show how amazing he was” when he bought guns to criminals.

“In an try to achieve ‘street cred’ and to exhibit how awesome he was, he bought some lawfully bought firearms to people today who ended up legally able to have a firearm,” Greven wrote.

Hones pleaded guilty on July 2 to one rely of partaking in the organization of providing firearms without the need of a license. He is envisioned to be sentenced Friday by Decide Benita Y. Pearson.

He was indicted on May well 13, 2021, by a federal grand jury. An affidavit in the situation has not still been produced general public, but the indictment claimed that Hones experienced been providing guns involving July 2019 and August 2020 without the need of having a license.

He has been no cost on bond since his arraignment.

Prosecutors assert Hones was selling guns he understood he received illegally and offered them to criminals. They have asked for a sentencing enhancement in the situation. They stated in their possess sentencing memorandum filed previous 7 days that Hones offered concerning 100 and 199 guns and he used these mediums as pawn stores, gun retailers, Armslist and Fb Messenger.

Even so, Greven is contesting that allegation, and he said in his memorandum filed Monday that Hones received the guns lawfully but acknowledges providing some of them to people he understood ought to not have guns.

Prosecutors explained they strategy to clearly show Friday that Hones was receiving guns illegally and that he sold concerning 100 and 199 guns that were being unlawful. They claimed his guns had been utilized to threaten people, shoot up a automobile and assistance drug sellers do company.

But Greven reported in his memorandum that his shopper is a 36-year-previous native of Los Angeles who lived in The Netherlands prior to returning to the United States in 2010. This is the 1st time he has at any time been billed with a crime at any stage.

Greven wrote that Hones was robbed of guns 2 times on the established while filming rap movies by someone else who experienced a gun, which formed him “to abandon his desire of turning into a rap star.”

Because he abandoned the conditions that created him split the legislation, Greven said it is quite not likely Hones will dedicate long term crimes.