Show-Me State Times

A Fredericktown, Missouri man appeared in federal court after being indicted for attempting to purchase a firearm while facing felony charges. William Bruce Branum, 64, was charged in a single-count indictment by a federal grand jury on July 22, 2025.

According to the indictment, Branum allegedly submitted a false written statement to a Federal Firearms Licensee in Alton, Missouri on April 26, 2025, as part of his attempt to acquire a firearm.

“The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.”

If convicted under federal statutes, Branum could face up to ten years in federal prison without parole. The final sentence will be determined by the court based on advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors following a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony M. Brown and was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative that coordinates resources from various programs such as the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) to address violent crime and transnational criminal organizations.