Jury Convicts Doyline, Louisiana Man of Dealing Firearms Without a License
Assault Rifles Used During Gun Fight in Mexico Illegally Sold
Shreveport, La.: United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Raymond Pegg, 74, of Doyline, La., was convicted last night by a federal jury of dealing in firearms without a license. The repetitive purchase of firearms for the purpose of resale for livelihood and profit without a federal firearms license is a violation of federal law.
Investigation of Pegg began when the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in Shreveport received information that two firearms purchased by Raymond Pegg in the United States were recovered in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico at a crime scene and gun fight between Mexican authorities and persons associated with the Gulf Cartel. During this gun fight, several drug cartel gunmen were killed and others arrested. A Mexican Marine was also killed. Two assault type rifles that were originally purchased by Pegg were found in the possession of individuals associated with the Gulf Cartel at the time of the gun fight.
Within a few days after receiving this information, ATF Special Agents obtained a federal search warrant to search Pegg’s residence in Doyline. 38 firearms were found and seized from Pegg’s workshop adjacent to his house. Among the firearms seized were numerous AR–15 and AK–47 type assault rifles.
The ATF Shreveport investigation found and the evidence presented at trial established that between 2008 and 2010, Pegg purchased a large number of firearms from various licensed firearms dealers in the Shreveport and Bossier City area. He purchased 37 different firearms at one licensed dealer. Of these 37 firearms, 20 where AR–15 type assault rifles. From this same licensed dealer, Pegg purchased firearms in his own name at the request of another person who was to pay Pegg for the firearms. Pegg falsely stated on the ATF form that he signed when he purchased these firearm that he was the actual buyer of the firearm. The form warns buyers that it is a felony crime for the actual buyer of a firearm to purchase a firearm for another person. This type of transfer can only be done by a licensed firearms dealer. Pegg was not a licensed firearms dealer. The form also warns buyers that the repetitive purchase of firearms for the purpose of resale for livelihood and profit without a Federal firearms license is also a crime.
Pegg rented tables at eight gun shows in the Shreveport or Bossier City where he bought, sold, and traded firearms. He also went to gun shows in Longview, TX, and Monroe, La.
United States District Judge Donald E. Walter presided over the two–day trial and Pegg’s sentencing is set for September 18, 2012. The penalty for this offense is a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a term of not more than 3 years supervised release upon release from prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, and forfeiture of the firearms.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide program begun in 2001 designed to reduce violence by aggressively enforcing existing federal firearms laws. The case was investigated by the Shreveport office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Gillespie, Jr.
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