Cottondale Man Arrested On Federal Firearm Charges

BIRMINGHAM, AL — A Tuscaloosa County man, along with another man from Connecticut, were arrested last week on federal firearm charges, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona's office announced.

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The two-count federal indictment says between April 2021 and September 2021, the defendants purchased multiple handguns from a licensed firearms dealer in Tuscaloosa County by means of straw-purchase transactions.

Jevonte Kendrell Davis, 28, of Cottondale, is accused of falsely representing himself to be the buyer of the guns and was charged with engaging in the business of selling firearms without a license, along with making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

Tyrese Perry, 25, of New Haven, Connecticut, is also charged with making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

Escalona's office says those found guilty of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm face a maximum sentence of 10 years. Additionally, the maximum penalty for engaging in the business of selling firearms without a license is five years in prison.

The operation resulting in the arrests is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the "centerpiece" of the U.S. Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.

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