PHOENIX (AZ Family) – A Phoenix man was sentenced to eight months in prison after admitting to providing weapons to a man who was convicted of trying to murder two Jews in California in February 2023.

Eric Celaya, 30, was sentenced Monday. The judge ruled that after his prison sentence, he would be on probation for 36 months after his release.

Celaya pleaded guilty to lying during the purchase of a firearm while in federal court earlier this year.

Federal prosecutors say that on January 19, 2023, Celaya purchased two firearms from a licensed dealer in Tempe.

Celaya completed the required federal forms, which required him to confirm that he was purchasing the weapons for himself. However, the feds say Celaya knew he was purchasing the firearms on behalf of Jamie Tran.

After Celaya gave the weapons to Tran, Tran used them to shoot. Two Jews outside the Los Angeles synagogue on February 15 and 16.2023.

However, the feds say Celaya had no criminal record and there was no evidence to suggest he knew of Tran’s intentions to kill two people.

In September, Tran was sentenced to 35 years in prison after the crimes were accused of hate crimes..

Federal officials say Tran emailed two dozen former classmates a pamphlet containing anti-Semitic propaganda, including the statement: “EVERY ASPECT OF THE COVID AGENDA IS JEWISH.”

“Charging people with death based solely on their religious and ethnic origin brings back memories of the darkest chapters in human history,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said at Tran’s sentencing. “Such hate-fueled violence has no place in the United States. We hope that the sentence imposed today sends a strong message to everyone in our community that we will not tolerate anti-Semitism or hate of any kind. For those who commit hate crimes, the punishment will be severe.”

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