Three Men Charged in Alleged Straw Purchases at Lake County Gun Show
Three men are facing felony charges after authorities say they coordinated illegal firearm purchases during a gun show at the Lake County Fairgrounds on May 18, 2025.
According to court documents, detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department were conducting surveillance when they observed Keshawn Marquel Romel Brown, 21, purchasing four Glock handguns and an AR-15-style rifle using cash. Brown allegedly filled out federal firearm forms falsely stating the weapons were for his personal use and used a false address.
After completing the purchases, Brown was seen handing firearms to Jhust Theodus McBride, 20, and Gregory Davon Shade Jr., 18, as well as an unidentified individual. Detectives stopped the men shortly after they left the fairgrounds, recovering the weapons during traffic stops. All three were found to have been in contact during and after the transactions.
On May 20, 2025, charges were filed in Lake Superior Court.
Keshawn Marquel Romel Brown, 21, was charged with:
- Five counts of use of false information to obtain a firearm – Level 5 Felony
Jhust Theodus McBride, 20, was charged with:
- Three counts of use of false information to obtain a firearm – Level 5 Felony
Gregory Davon Shade Jr., 18, was charged with:
- One count of use of false information to obtain a firearm – Level 5 Felony
All three suspects are currently lodged in the Lake County Jail.
