[URL="http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/4473267/9270571/Firearms_conviction_brings_10-month_term"][url]http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/4473267/9270571/Firearms_conviction_brings_10-month_term[/URL][/URL]
Oct. 20A Luling man has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison for selling firearms without a license.
Alfred Dwight Watkins, 58, will also have to pay a fine of $11,232 and be on supervised release for three years after his term is served, according to the sentence handed down Friday by United States District Judge Sam Sparks.
Watkins pleaded guilty in August, admitting that he continued to sell at area gun shows after his federal firearms license had expired in 2003.
"An investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents confirmed that Watkins was buying and selling firearms at Austin and San Antonio gun shows from January to March of 2009," said Daryl Fields, public information officer for the U. S. Attorney's Office.
"According to court documents, Watkins deliberately misinformed customers, telling them that no paperwork was required for transactions in an effort to 'flip' more firearms. Watkins also admitted that during a gun show in February 2009, he sold a firearm for $600 to a person who is lawfully prohibited from possessing a firearm," Fields said.
The ATF agents were also able to link Watkins to a firearm recovered from the Los Zetas drug cartel by Mexican authorities in November 2008.
Fields said agents executed a search warrant at Watkin's residence in March and seized 65 firearms, "including a dozen assault rifles, plus approximately 59,000 rounds of ammunition."
As part of Watkin's guilty plea, he forfeited the guns and ammunition to federal authorities.
Oct. 20A Luling man has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison for selling firearms without a license.
Alfred Dwight Watkins, 58, will also have to pay a fine of $11,232 and be on supervised release for three years after his term is served, according to the sentence handed down Friday by United States District Judge Sam Sparks.
Watkins pleaded guilty in August, admitting that he continued to sell at area gun shows after his federal firearms license had expired in 2003.
"An investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents confirmed that Watkins was buying and selling firearms at Austin and San Antonio gun shows from January to March of 2009," said Daryl Fields, public information officer for the U. S. Attorney's Office.
"According to court documents, Watkins deliberately misinformed customers, telling them that no paperwork was required for transactions in an effort to 'flip' more firearms. Watkins also admitted that during a gun show in February 2009, he sold a firearm for $600 to a person who is lawfully prohibited from possessing a firearm," Fields said.
The ATF agents were also able to link Watkins to a firearm recovered from the Los Zetas drug cartel by Mexican authorities in November 2008.
Fields said agents executed a search warrant at Watkin's residence in March and seized 65 firearms, "including a dozen assault rifles, plus approximately 59,000 rounds of ammunition."
As part of Watkin's guilty plea, he forfeited the guns and ammunition to federal authorities.