Man gets 12 years in prison for selling guns to Chicago gang members

A man convicted of selling guns out of his bedroom to Chicago gang members has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.

David Santiago, 39, pleaded guilty last year to two counts of illegal possession of firearms, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. The sentence was handed down April 15.

Santiago had previously been convicted of felonies and was not legally allowed to possess a firearm, the office said.

Prosecutors said Santiago sold guns out of his home in Chicago Lawn, many of them to people he knew were gang members.

He boasted to buyers that the guns were “clean” and “brand new,” prosecutors said, and were obtained in Kansas.

During one sale, the buyer discussed how he intended to give a gun to a younger member of a gang, prosecutors said. The buyer was cooperating with law enforcement and recorded the interaction.

Investigators seized 16 guns, including rifles and semi-automatic handguns, prosecutors said. More than 100 grams of heroin were also recovered.