MADISON, WI (WSAU) — A Merrill woman has been sentenced for making false statements to secure the purchase of two firearms, a practice known as a straw purchase.
Ashley Zastrow will serve one year and one day in federal prison for presenting herself as the buyer of the handguns when in fact she was not. She was making the buy for an individual who accompanied her to the store and provided her with cash at the time of purchase.
This person was unable to legally possess a gun because of a previous felony conviction. The individual is also accused of using one of the weapons to commit a homicide.
In sentencing the 32-year-old, Judge Conley stated that she made a “disastrous” choice to transfer firearms to a prohibited person and could not ignore the fact that this choice contributed to a woman’s death. Judge Conley also reasoned that a prison sentence was warranted given the defendant’s poor performance on pre-trial release and nominal efforts to confront her methamphetamine addiction.
The case was brought forward through a multi-jurisdiction effort between law enforcement in Lincoln and Wood counties along with the FBI.
