PHOENIX – A 52-year-old Tempe woman has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan this week imposed the jail sentence on Erika LaRae Williams, which will be followed by three years of supervised release, according to the Arizona district of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Williams pleaded guilty on May 22.

Authorities said Williams purchased the Taurus G3 pistol for her son in 2020, five months after his prison release for several violent felony convictions.  

Essa Williams is awaiting trial in Maricopa County Superior Court as the suspect in the shooting of Phoenix police officer Tyler Moldovan on Dec. 14, 2021, officials said.

The Taurus G3 pistol was not the firearm  used to shoot Moldovan, the U.S. Attorney’s Office release stated.

On Sept. 3, 2020, Erika LaRae Williams purchased the pistol after completing the Firearms Transaction Record and swearing that “she was the actual purchaser of the firearm while knowing she was purchasing the firearm on behalf of Essa Williams,” the release stated.

Pursuant to a federal search warrant, the ATF seized and searched Erika LaRae Williams’ cellular telephone, “which revealed a lengthy text exchange with Essa Williams during the purchase of the Taurus G3 pistol.

“Essa Williams asked his mother via text message which firearm was purchased, what other options were available, and whether his mother’s background check went through. Ms. Williams provided Essa Williams details about who assisted in the purchase and confirmed the purchase was complete,” according to the release.

On March 10, 2022, AFT seized the Taurus G3 pistol from Erika Williams’ home, officials said.