Box Elder Woman Lied to Buy Guns Used in Double Murder

Piece of advice on buying a firearm: don't lie on any question on the ATF form 4473.

Airian Mariah Russette from Box Elder is learning this the really hard way.

In late March this year, she entered the North 40 Outfitters in Havre and applied to purchase a pair of handguns, both semi-autos.  On the 4473 is the question 21.a which specifies: "Are you the actual transferee/buyer of all of the firearm(s) listed on this form and any continuation sheet(s) (ATF Form 5300.9A)?  Warning: You are not the actual transferee/buyer if you are acquiring any of the firearm(s) on behalf of another person."

Russette marked the question with a Yes.  This was the lie and the crime.

Before she even walked into the store, Russette exchanged text messages with a drug dealer and this individual asked her to buy the guns for them.  In return she would receive Oxycodone.  She agreed to the deal.

According to the press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for Montana, she made the purchase at North 40, drove from Havre to Box Elder, and gave the pistols to the dealer.

The .380 and the 9mm handguns were used in a double homicide only hours after the purchase.  Police recovered the weapons from the murder suspects themselves, still in their possession.

How much Oxy did Russette get for the straw purchase?  Only four pills.

Russette pled guilty to the charge of false statement during a firearms transaction and may serve up to ten years in prison with a $250,000 fine.

Those are some really expensive pills.  What do you think?  Worth it?

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