U.S. Attorney McAllister: 144 Defendants Charged With Firearms Violations in FY 2020

TOPEKA, KAN. – Federal prosecutors charged 144 defendants with firearm-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID 19 on the criminal justice process, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Nationally, the Department of Justice charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during the same time.

“Investigating, prosecuting and combatting gun crimes are critical parts of our anti-violence strategy,” McAllister said. “We are partnering with federal law enforcement agencies and state and local police departments to reduce gun violence.”

Attorney General William P. Barr said: “The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe. By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences.

“The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals, who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms,” he continued. “Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”

Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon, illegal alien and an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to illegally purchase - firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is required to purchase a firearm, is also a federal offense.

The Department is committed to prosecuting these firearms offenses as well as using all modern technologies available to law enforcement such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN, to promote gun crime intelligence. Keeping illegal firearms out of the hands of violent criminals will continue to be a priority of the Department of Justice and we will use all appropriate, available means to keep the law-abiding people of this country safe from gun crime. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.