David “Big Man” Lewisbey Convicted Of Illegal Sale Of Guns In Chicago

David “Big Man” Lewisbey was convicted of a gun-smuggling scheme that involved the illegal sale of more than a dozen guns in Chicago.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the verdict followed a week and a half long trial in which Lewisbey sought to cast himself as a gun enthusiast and marijuana seller as opposed to an illegal transporter of guns across state lines.

“We are very pleased with the verdict,” said acting U.S. Attorney Gary Shapiro. “It was completely consistent with the facts.”

This news comes just hours after the Chicago park shooting which took place Thursday evening.

While the investigators are saying the shooting is believed to be gang related, it is not known or assumed that Lewisbey’s guns were involved in Thursday’s shooting.

According to ABC News, during the proceedings Lewisbey told jurors that he was just a simple marijuana dealer and “gun collector,” a claim that jurors didn’t believe.

The report continued on to say that between January 2008 and September 2012, Lewisbey routinely traveled to different gun shows in Indiana and purchased duffle bags full of guns which he then brought back to Chicago.

“This is one of the most significant gun-trafficking cases we have prosecuted and one that effectively ended a steady supply of potentially lethal weapons from Indiana to Chicago,” said Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

Three co-defendants, Levaine Tanksley, 28; Charles Lemle, 27 and Michael Hall, 28 have already pleaded guilty to illegal gun possession charges and are awaiting sentencing.

ABC News stated that Lewisbey will face maximum penalties of 10 years in prison on each count of interstate travel, and five years in prison on each of the other three counts, and a maximum $250,000 fine on each count.

The Inquisitr reported earlier Chicago’s Mayor, Raahm Emanuel commenting on guns and the Chicago park shooting:

“Senseless and brazen acts of violence have no place in Chicago and betray all that we stand for,” the mayor’s office said in a statement according to CNN.

“The perpetrators of this crime will be brought to justice and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I encourage everyone in the community to step forward with any information and everyone in Chicago to continue their individual efforts to build stronger communities where violence has no place.”

The conviction of David “Big Man” Lewisbey is being considered a big step in hopefully bringing an end to the violence in the city’s streets.

[Image via Shutterstock/pio3]