A Phoenix man was sentenced this week for his involvement in the shootings of two members of the West Los Angeles Jewish community last year, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. District Judge sentenced Eric Celaya on Monday to eight months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.
According to a news release , Celaya bought two guns in Tempe on Jan. 19, 2023, and illegally transferred them to Jamie Tran.
It was reported that Celaya intended to purchase the firearms for Tran but falsified paperwork, claiming himself to be the “actual purchaser.”
The release states that on Feb. 15 and 16, 2023, Tran used the firearms Celaya had obtained for him to shoot two Jewish men in California.
Although both victims survived, Tran’s intent was to kill them, the release said. The offenses were charged as hate crimes, according to the release. Tran was sentenced in September to 35 years in prison for the shootings.
According to the release, there was no evidence to show that Celaya was aware of Tran’s intentions or beliefs. Sources have alleged that Tran was not legally allowed to own firearms because of mental health conditions.