Former FBI agent recieves two year prison sentence for federal firearms violation
By BNO News
EL PASO, TEXAS - A Former El Paso Federal Bureau of Investigation agent (FBI) was sentenced on Tuesday morning to two years of imprisonment for his federal firearms violation, U.S. Attorney John Murphy said.
Former FBI special agent John Shipley was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and to complete 250 hours of community service following the completion of his prison term. He will also have to forfeit several firearms, ammunition, and cash.
The case against Shipley began on March 8, 2008, after Mexican authorities recovered a .50 caliber sniper rifle after a gunfight between drug traffickers and military members near Chihuahua, Mexico. The U.S. launched a joint investigation that traced the rifle back to Shipley.
Shipley illegally sold the sniper rifle. The investigation also revealed that the defendant was engaged in the business of dealing in firearms form January 2005 until May 2008. Shipley posted guns for sale using an internet website despite the fact that he was not licensed as a Federal Firearms Dealer.
The defendant posted sales for at least 200 times, some of the posts were for many firearms. In addition, Shipley purchased 54 weapons and subsequently sold 51 for approximately $118,000. On four occasions, he also gave false information on ATF forms while purchasing firearms; he stated he was the actual buyer when he was not.
Shipley also provided federal agents a document entitled "A Dealer's Firearms Record Book," which was supposedly Shipley's only list of the firearms bought and sold. However, Shipley lied, once more time, as he possessed another, more complete and accurate listing.
The defendant will have to forfeit 17 firearms, including two .50 caliber Barrett rifles; ammunition in various calibers including over 2,800 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition; one silencer; and $7,340 in cash. All these items were seized during a federal search warrant executed at Shipley's residence on May 6, 2008.
"Federal agents are not exempt from the laws which they swore to uphold. Mr. Shipley is being held accountable for his own criminal actions. They are in no way a reflection of the outstanding work being accomplished by dedicated federal, state, and local law enforcement," Murphy said.
The investigation was conducted jointly by members of the U.S. Department of Justice and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
http://wireupdate.com/local/former-fbi-agent-recieves-two-year-prison-sentence-for-federal-firearms-violation/
