Gun-Related Charges for Defendants in Trump Assassination Case

Two individuals have pleaded guilty to gun charges in connection with a man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump in Florida in 2024. Documents from the court reveal that Tina Cooper and Ronnie Oxendin acknowledged their roles in firearm trafficking and possessing unregistered firearms in June.

According to federal prosecutors, the pair conspired to sell rifles made in China in August 2024. They were apprehended the following month while hiding with a similar rifle on a golf course where Trump was playing.

Cooper and Oxendin were arrested on April 15, but their plea deals went unreported by major news outlets until recently. Some details surrounding their involvement are still emerging.

Cooper worked for Oxendin, who operates a roofing business in North Carolina. She served as a go-between, purchasing a rifle from him, even after informing him it was for someone else. Interestingly, Oxendin did not face charges related to this sale, but the FBI discovered an unregistered shotgun at his residence, contributing to his guilty plea.

After learning about the assassination plot, Cooper suggested that Oxendin erase any messages related to the case and advised him against cooperating with the FBI.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Routh, the man accused of the assassination, with multiple crimes, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and possessing firearms to facilitate violence. Routh, who is reportedly a supporter of Ukraine, is claimed to have feared Trump’s actions could negatively affect the ongoing war with Russia and even sought a rocket launcher from a Ukrainian contact.

Cooper could face up to 15 years in prison, while Oxendin might receive a sentence of up to 10 years based on their plea agreements.