Sikeston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charges
The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that a Sikeston, Missouri man pled guilty to gun charges.
THOMAS C. LOVETTE, age 45, pled guilty to two felony counts of being a Previously Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He appeared before United States District Judge Henry E. Autrey.
In January, 2011, officers arrested Lovette who was in possession of a Glock, 9mm caliber pistol. Lovette told the officers that he traded two other pistols for the firearm at a local firearms store. Lovette admitted that he also had a rifle at his residence in Sikeston. Officers went to the residence and recovered a Smith & Wesson, 5.56 mm caliber rifle, and several rounds of ammunition of various calibers.
Federal officers also found records verifying that Lovette traded a Taurus, 9mm pistol, and a Taurus, .45 caliber pistol for the 9mm Glock.
Due to Lovette’s previous conviction for the felonies of False Official Statements, Larceny of Military Property, and Impersonating a Non–Commissioned Officer in 2004, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Lovette now faces a maximum punishment of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count. Sentencing has been set for April 17, 2012.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Keith D. Sorrell is handling the prosecution for the Government.
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