ATLANTA, June 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Special Agent in Charge Vanessa L. McLemore of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced that a former federally licensed gun dealer from Athens, Ga., reported to federal prison today following his conviction for the illegal sale of a gun and ammunition to a known criminal.
The start of a 37-month sentence for Michael Carl Oakley, 46, marks the final chapter in ATF's 10-month investigation into the illegal business practices of the northeast Georgia federal firearms licensee.
"Whether motivated by greed, disregard for the law or both, gun dealers such as this give a black eye to the entire retail firearms industry," said McLemore. "If Michael Oakley is able to sleep at night knowing that he's supplied guns to criminals, at least he's now sleeping behind bars."
According to documents filed in court, police received information in December 2005 that an employee of Oakley Outdoor Sports in Colbert, Ga., had allegedly sold firearms to a convicted felon. That employee turned out to be Oakley himself, the man listed as the "responsible person" on the ATF-issued firearms license.
In January 2006, ATF used a confidential informant to determine if illegal gun sales were occurring at Oakley's business. Speaking with Oakley about purchasing a firearm, the informant stated that he/she was a convicted felon and did not want to execute any of the required paperwork. With this knowledge, Oakley nevertheless proceeded with the sale of a .38 caliber revolver and 50 rounds of matching ammunition, without completing a criminal history background check.
Oakley pleaded guilty to two felony counts in January 2007 for the sale of a firearm and ammunition to a prohibited person. As part of the plea agreement, Oakley further conceded that the government would have been able to prove several more facts at trial. These included that in the ensuing months following the initial illegal sale, Oakley sold five more firearms, two firearm silencers and assorted ammunition to the same prohibited person.
This case was investigated by ATF special agents and Athens-Clarke County Police Department detectives, with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia prosecuted the case.
McLemore noted that ATF has the unique dual responsibility of enforcing federal firearms laws and regulating the firearms industry. "To successfully fight violent crime, it is essential to prevent the illegal flow of firearms to criminals," she added. "Special agents advance this goal by identifying and arresting persons who illegally supply firearms to gang members and prohibited persons such as felons and juveniles. ATF pursues this mission by working both independently and through partnerships with industry and other federal, state, local and international law enforcement agencies."
More information on ATF and its programs and resources is at http://www.atf.gov/.
Contact: Special Agent Marc Jackson
Public Information Officer
(404) 417-2610
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
CONTACT: Special Agent Marc Jackson, Public Information Officer of
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, +1-404-417-2610
Web site: http://www.atf.gov/
