KC Reporter

A Springfield man has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for his involvement in a firearms trafficking conspiracy. DeSean L. Franklin, 24, received the sentence from U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips and will also serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.

Franklin pleaded guilty on November 25, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms. He admitted to conspiring to receive a firearm while knowing he was prohibited from possessing one. Franklin is among three defendants in this case who have all entered guilty pleas and is the last to be sentenced.

Joseph M. Johnson, another defendant, pleaded guilty on May 20, 2024, and was sentenced to five years of probation. Raimaiya L. Tyson pleaded guilty on December 17, 2024, receiving a sentence of 19 months.

Johnson confessed to purchasing a firearm which he then transferred to Franklin, who was legally barred from possessing firearms due to associations with an area gang known as “ODB.” This gang has connections with various violent and firearm-related offenses. Members often use straw purchasers because they are unable to buy firearms themselves due to age restrictions or criminal histories.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) observed Tyson and Franklin at a gun show in Greene County on August 12, 2023. Due to pending felony charges in Caddo County for unlawful possession of drugs and firearms during the commission of a felony, Franklin could not purchase firearms legally. Tyson also faced similar legal restrictions due to charges in Henry County but attempted unsuccessfully to buy a Draco pistol.

Later that day at the gun show with Johnson’s help, they purchased a Micro Draco semi-automatic pistol despite their legal limitations.

On August 31, deputies from the Greene County Sheriff's Office found multiple loaded firearms including the Draco pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during a search of Franklin's vehicle following a traffic stop.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan prosecuted this case which involved collaboration between several law enforcement agencies including ATF and local police departments under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN aims at reducing violent crime through coordinated efforts across different levels of law enforcement while fostering community trust by supporting organizations that prevent violence proactively since its relaunch by the Department on May 26th focusing on strategic priorities aligned towards measurable outcomes for safer neighborhoods nationwide.

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