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Man pleads guilty in 'straw man' gun-buying ring By Patricia Snyder Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Patricia Snyder Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 14, 2016 @ 4:10 pm By Patricia Snyder Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 14, 2016 @ 4:10 pm » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> MEDFORD — A Grants Pass man whose stray-bullet killing of a little girl led to the exposure of a gun-buying conspiracy pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to trading a gun for drugs and lying to a firearms dealer to get a gun for someone else instead of himself. Jon Andrew Meyer Jr., 33, mishandled a Russian-made SKS rifle that discharged July 27, 2013, fatally shooting 5-year-old Alysa Bobbitt, who was visiting an upstairs apartment in Grants Pass. A friend of the child's mother was also seriously injured. The case led to the exposure of an organized "straw man" gun-buying ring in Josephine and Jackson counties. In such cases, the "straw man" is someone who claims to be purchasing firearms for personal use but is secretly representing someone else, usually someone who is not legally allowed to buy guns. Some of the guns turned up later at crime scenes in California, including gang shootings in Oakland. Thirty-one people were indicted in July 2014 under "Operation Rap it Up." As his mother wept in the courtroom, Meyer appeared Monday before Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke in U.S. District Court in Medford to agree to a plea bargain that would tack five years onto his existing manslaughter sentence from the shooting. Meyer, previously described in court as an unemployed bouncer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to falsify a firearms application and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The firearm possession case dates to June 27, 2013, and relates to a Harrington & Richardson 12-gauge shotgun. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Fong told the judge, "Basically, he exchanged methamphetamine and got the firearm." Meyer's co-defendant and girlfriend, Victoria India Kohout, pleaded guilty in April to one count of conspiracy to make a false statement on a firearms application. Her sentencing is set for July 28. Another co-defendant, Leon Ramon Ireland, still faces charges of aiding and abetting Meyer by soliciting him to buy guns, telling him what guns to buy, providing him with money, paying him and taking possession of the guns. Allegations include that Ireland posted several photos of himself on social media with firearms similar to what his Facebook friend Meyer had purchased. The judge cautioned Meyer prior to the plea change that the shotgun possession charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, with a five-year mandatory minimum sentence, and that the court does not have to abide by terms of the plea bargain. Sentencing was tentatively scheduled for Sept. 15, but attorneys indicated potential schedule conflicts that could force a date change. Under the agreement crafted with defense attorney Shaun McCrea, Meyer faces 60 months for the shotgun possession case, to run consecutive to his earlier 75-month sentence for second-degree manslaughter in the death of Alysa Bobbitt. His earliest release date in that case is Sept. 25, 2019. Under the plea agreement, Meyer is released from a host of charges, including nine counts of making a false statement on a firearms application, possession and distribution of methamphetamine, being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm and possession of firearms that include a machine gun, in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. As Meyer was led from the courtroom with hands cuffed behind him, his mother called to him, "I love you. God be with you, honey." Afterward, Terri Meyer said she was "proud of him for standing up and taking responsibility." However, she said, she is "worried how much of his life he's lost now." "We miss him," she said. "His kids miss him." His children are ages 9, 12 and 14. Reach reporter Patricia Snyder at 541-474-3806 or [email protected] By Patricia Snyder Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Patricia Snyder Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 14, 2016 @ 4:10 pm » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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