Firearms straw buyer has appeal dismissed
Court decision validates police investigation.
The Edmonton Police Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU) continues to target “straw buyers” - a term used to describe someone who uses a legitimate Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) to purchase firearms legally and then traffic/sell them illegally.
Recently, a convicted ‘straw buyer’ lost their appeal to overturn their conviction in relation to a 2019 investigation.
“I believe this investigation is a win because it has gone through the complete court process,” Detective Kristopher Bombier of the Firearms Investigation Unit said.
In 2019 - Craig Darren Jacobs held a valid restricted possession and acquisition licence and legally bought 14 handguns. He was arrested after officers say they witnessed him leaving three of the handguns inside an Edmonton townhome. When a search of his home in Bonnyville turned up no trace of the 11 other guns, despite the fact they were required to be stored there, he claimed they had been stolen. But didn’t report that until after his arrest.
Investigators also failed to locate any items that would be associated with a sport shooter, including cleaning equipment and ear and eye protection.
In 2021 Jacobs was convicted of two counts of Firearms Trafficking. Police believed it was a “straw buying” scheme.
When he appealed, Jacobs argued the trial judge improperly relied on police evidence about the typical behavior of “legitimate” firearms owners.
Specifically, he argued the officers who testified should have been qualified as expert witnesses before being allowed to opine on how lawful firearms owners conduct themselves.
At trial Jacobs said he had only been showing the handguns to a friend and offered up a variety of suggestions as to why the other handguns couldn’t be found.
The Court of Appeal disagreed and dismissed his appeal.
“When you’re working firearms investigations and firearms trafficking investigations, you want to set some form of precedent and validation that you’re doing the right things. That was confirmed by the first conviction and then confirmed by the Alberta Court of Appeals,” Bombier said.
Jacobs was convicted of two counts of s.99(1) Firearm Trafficking and sentenced to 9 years.
He is currently appealing the sentence.