Untied States of America v. Gregory Tischuk

Rock Hill, South Carolina, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charge with straw purchasing firearms.

Reported by Kent Morlan

Gregory Tischuk, age 66, of York County, trafficked guns from Fort Mill to Baltimore, Maryland, through a gun trafficker operating in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The gun trafficker could not legally own or purchase firearms. An undercover ATF agent began buying guns from the gun trafficker in Baltimore and Charlotte. Over the course of their investigation, the undercover agent purchased approximately 106 guns, with many of the guns coming from North and South Carolina. Six of the firearms purchased were traced back to Tischuk, a resident of Fort Mill.

In several text messages, the gun trafficker asked Tischuk for a Glock 27 pistol for the trafficker’s wife. Tischuk indicated that he did not have one but one could get one. The trafficker then agreed to sell the undercover agent a Glock 27 pistol. On March 21, 2024, the undercover agent bought 10 guns in Maryland from the gun trafficker, including a Glock 27. The Glock 27 was traced back to Tischuk. The trafficker purchased the gun from Tischuk on March 15, 2024 in Prosperity, South Carolina.

In April 2024, Tischuk agreed to sell the gun trafficker another Glock 27. Tischuk purchased another Glock 27 on April 4, 2024, as part of a multiple purchase of firearms. It was later recovered by the ATF on April 30, 2024, in Baltimore.

As evidenced by the text messages, Tischuk knew he was not buying the firearm for himself when he filled out the ATF Form 4473. Tischuk made a false declaration when filling out the ATF Form 4473.

Investigators interviewed Tischuk after the execution of a search warrant at his home. Tischuk admitted he knew the gun trafficker and had sold him multiple firearms, specifically more than one Glock 27. He admitted he straw purchased the Glock 27 with the intent to immediately sell it to the subject for profit. Investigators seized more than 100 firearms during the search of his home.

The Defendant elected to plead guilty and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.