It makes them a felon. They better not get caught doing anything in VA.
They were felons anyway. Making a straw purchase is a federal felony. No exception for out of jurisdiction private investigators, nor state employees outside *their* jurisdiction. The Mayor is an accomplice, and/or a co-conspirator to violate federal law.
If the federal "police", primarily the BATFE, had a single hair on their collective backsides they'd indict these criminals, maybe stomp their cats and throw their pregnant wives up against a wall. But of course the BATFE would rather go after ordinary citizens in possession of fender washers and exhaust tubing, or plumbing supplies, because that doesn't cost them any budget $$$, and if properly spun, would actually give them more leverage in the budget wars.