A Blaine man pleaded guilty Thursday to straw purchasing dozens of guns, some of which were tied to criminal activity across the Twin Cities, including the killings of two young girls in the summer of 2021.

The federal charges against William Burton said that he bought 43 firearms between November 2019 and August 2020. By April 2025, 17 of the guns had been found under circumstances associated with criminal activity.

He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make false statements in the purchasing of firearms. If his plea is accepted, the other charges against him — making false statements during the purchase of a firearm and destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation — will be dropped.

Charging documents said the gun used in the murder of 9-ye

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