Show-Me State Times

CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon caught buying and selling guns to 72 months in prison.

Shawn Dennis Stockard’s sentence consists of 54 months on one count of unlawful interstate transportation of firearms and a consecutive 18 months on a charge of possession with intent to sell controlled substances. Judge Fleissig also fined Stockard $85,000.

Stockard, 53, pleaded guilty to both charges, in separate cases, in June. As part of his plea, he agreed to forfeit 215 firearms, firearms accessories and a large amount of ammunition worth at least $230,000 that was seized during the investigation.

Stockard used the Federal Firearms License (FFL) belonging to William Henry Otto, owner of Bull Run Weaponry in Marble Hill, Missouri, to buy firearms at an auction house in Illinois. Stockard brought the guns to Missouri and transferred them to his wife via Otto.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents learned of gun sales by Stockard and his connection to Otto in early 2022. During a court-approved search of Stockard’s home in Cape Girardeau County, they found the firearms and accessories and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

“This sentence acknowledges the defendant’s continued criminal conduct and sends a straightforward message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm and drug offenses,” said Bernard G. Hansen, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division.

Otto, 46, and Stockard’s wife have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. A fourth person, Terry Lee Allen, also awaits sentencing. Allen, 38, repeatedly bought multiple firearms from licensed dealers. He was the last known purchaser of seven guns linked to crime scenes in several states; six originally came from Bull Run. Otto’s records show that he sold at least 199 guns to Allen; the vast majority were illegally sold to others. Allen pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of unlicensed firearms dealing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis is prosecuting the case.

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