BAY CITY, MI – A woman has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of buying a gun for her ex-boyfriend, who’s now accused of using the weapon to kill his younger brother.

Jessica M. Peek, 25, in June appeared before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris and pleaded guilty to one count of sale or transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person. The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anca I. Pop said Peek on Aug. 23, 2017, bought a Kahr .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol from Showtime Guns & Ammo, 3621 Bay Road in Saginaw. She bought it for her then-boyfriend, Adrian L. Villanueva, knowing he had been convicted of a felony and thus banned from possessing a gun.

Villanueva had picked out the gun he wanted, provided Peek with the money to purchase it, and accompanied her to the business, Pop said. When she bought the gun, Peek misrepresented that she was buying it for herself, Pop said.

Villanueva kept the gun after the couple broke up, Pop said.

Peek validated these allegations when asked a series of yes-or-no questions by her attorney, Bryan J. Sherer.

On March 4, 2019, police allege the 33-year-old Villanueva used the weapon to shoot and kill his 25-year-old brother, Jonathan I. Villanueva. The shooting occurred in the brothers’ shared residence at 4035 Emerick St. in Saginaw Township. Adrian Villanueva called 911 to report the shooting.

In exchange for Peek’s plea, Pop agreed to dismiss a count of false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Pop also agreed Peek would be sentenced within the sentencing guidelines, which are from 15 to 21 months.

Saginaw Township Police Detective Sgt. Chad Brooks said Peek was living with Adrian Villanueva at the Emerick Street house when she bought the gun, though she now lives in Grand Traverse County. Peek was not in the house when the shooting occurred, Brooks said.

Adrian Villanueva is charged with open murder, three counts of felony firearm, and two counts of felonious assault.

The Villanueva brothers were natives of Georgia, according to their sister, Erica Durham, of Alabama. She said they were very close and that Adrian Villanueva has suffered from mental health issues much of his life.

Villanueva is to appear for a preliminary examination in Saginaw County District Court at 9 a.m. on July 24.

U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington is to sentence Peek at 2 p.m. on Sept. 19.