Man gets 10 years for trafficking gun used to kill officer

A 27-year-old man responsible for the illegal purchase of a gun used in the slaying of Chicago Police Officer Thomas Wortham IV in May was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a firearms trafficking scheme involving weapons brought from Mississippi to Chicago, authorities said today.

Quawi Gates of the 2100 block of West 71st Street in Chicago pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting another to cause a federal firearms dealer to keep false records, according to a news release from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Four guns bought by straw purchasers for Gates in Mississippi were confiscated in violent crimes in the Chicago area in the hands of Gangster Disciple street gang members, the release stated.

One of the four guns was used in Wortham's slaying on May 19 outside his parents' home in the Chatham neighborhood, according to the ATF. Gates did not take part in the shooting itself.

Gates was sentenced in federal court in Mississippi. His prison time will be followed by three years of supervised release. He will also be ordered to pay a special assessment fee of $200.

See the WGN9 report:

http://www.wgntv.com/search/wgntv-gun-used-in-cops-murder-linked-to-trafficking-case-aug25,0,2282350.story