Three Men Sentenced for Trafficking Firearms and Other Gun-Related Offenses

ATLANTA - Alvin Demar and Joshua Carter have been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking dozens of firearms that were later recovered from crime scenes in multiple states and Canada. Jamal Plunkett was sentenced for possessing one of the trafficked firearms.

"Firearm traffickers present an acute and dangerous threat to communities within and outside our district," said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. "The sentencing of these defendants is an example of our office's unwavering commitment to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle gun trafficking operations, and to prosecute those who jeopardize the wellbeing of our communities by funneling firearms to criminals."

"Identifying and disrupting firearms trafficking is one of ATF's key missions," said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. "These convictions and subsequent sentences send a clear message that firearm trafficking and the illegal possession and use of firearms will not be tolerated."

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between July 2021 and January 2022, Alvin Demar, a convicted felon with convictions for drug trafficking and aggravated robbery, paid individuals, including Joshua Carter, to straw purchase dozens of handguns in the metro Atlanta area. Demar then sold the straw-purchased weapons to other people who also trafficked them or used them in additional crimes.

The guns purchased and sold by Carter and Demar were recovered from crime scenes in Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; the District of Columbia; Gainesville, Georgia; French Camp, California; Edmonton, Canada; and Toronto, Canada. Some of the firearms were used in shootings before they were confiscated by law enforcement. For example, in November 2021, Carter purchased a Glock pistol that was linked to three shootings in Atlanta. Carter also purchased a Ruger pistol equipped with an extended magazine, and within two months of the purchase, Jamal Plunkett, a convicted felon, stole and discharged the pistol 17 times in Gainesville, Georgia.

Demar also illegally possessed numerous firearms for his own use. For example, in December 2019, Demar was arrested by Atlanta police officers after a loaded Glock pistol was found in a vehicle he was driving. In November 2022, federal agents found another loaded Glock pistol in Demar's bedroom, and they also seized a USAS-12 semiautomatic shotgun from his garage. The USAS-12 is a large-bore, military-type assault shotgun with a 10- or 20-round magazine. Under federal law, the USAS-12 is classified as a destructive device that must be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Due to his criminal history, Demar was prohibited from possessing firearms of any type.

Alvin Marvin Demar, 47, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross to 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Demar was convicted of two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, conspiracy to make false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer, making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. He pleaded guilty to these charges on March 27, 2024.

Joshua Carter, 29, of McDonough, Georgia, was sentenced by Judge Ross to three years in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release on June 5, 2024. Carter was convicted of conspiracy to make false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer after he pleaded guilty on January 23, 2024.

Jamal Plunkett, 36, of Snellville, Georgia, was sentenced in a separate case on October 10, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones. He is currently serving a sentence of four years, three months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Plunkett was convicted of possession of a stolen firearm after he pleaded guilty on May 19, 2023.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the DeKalb County (Georgia) Police Department and Gainesville Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.