Felon indicted in California for owning guns, dealing without a license

Federal authorities in California announced a four count indictment last week against a convicted felon suspected of dealing guns without a license.

U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott said 39-year-old James Bowen, of Fresno, faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a combined fine of $500,000 for illegally owning guns — all unregistered — and selling those weapons without a federal license.

“The injection of firearms into our communities through illegal sales like the ones charged in today’s indictment pose a serious public safety threat,” he said in a press release Thursday. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to collaborate with our state, local and federal partners to enforce gun laws that keep guns out the hands of criminals.”

According to court documents, federal investigators discovered a cache of 221 firearms inside Bowen’s residence after executing a search warrant earlier this month — including 85 rifles, 35 shotguns, 94 pistols, five suspected silencers, one suspected machine gun, and one full auto sear. Investigators believe Bowen began selling weapons in February 2017.

“Public safety is at the forefront of ATF’s mission,” said Special Agent in Charge Jill Snyder, ATF, San Francisco Field Division. “It is our duty to make this community a safer place for families. When law enforcement agencies create a unified front against violent crime, operations, like this one, will be successful.”

Federal authorities said Bowen’s arrest represents a larger nationwide strategy to combat gun and gang violence with local law enforcement, called Project Safe Neighborhoods. Since 2001, the Department of Justice has spent $2 billion on PSN — including hiring additional federal and state prosecutors, supporting investigators, providing training, distributing gun lock safety kits, detering juvenile gun crime, and “developing and promoting community outreach efforts as well as to support other gun and gang violence reduction strategies.”

The post Felon indicted in California for owning guns, dealing without a license appeared first on Guns.com.