WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT – Charles Gibson Bailey, 36, is headed back to prison after being sentenced to three years behind bars for illegally possessing ammunition, the Department of Justice announced Thursday. The conviction adds to a growing rap sheet for Bailey, who previously served time for building unregistered improvised bombs.
Bailey pleaded guilty in October 2022 to being a felon in possession of ammunition. The case stems from an April 2022 search of his residence and vehicle conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the West Yellowstone Police Department, and the Federal Protective Service. Agents discovered 14 .40-caliber bullets in Bailey’s truck. Crucially, the headstamps on the bullets had been deliberately obliterated, suggesting an attempt to conceal their origin.
This isn’t Bailey’s first encounter with the federal justice system. In May 2020, he received a 40-month prison sentence for possessing unregistered improvised bombs. Upon release, Bailey was placed on supervised release, which was quickly violated. Just two months prior to the ATF search, the probation office petitioned to revoke his supervised release following multiple run-ins with the West Yellowstone Police. The court responded by sending him back to jail for another three months – a brief respite before this latest conviction.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen handed down the three-year sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy J. Racicot and Ryan G. Weldon led the prosecution, highlighting the clear danger posed by Bailey’s repeated offenses. The obliterated headstamps on the ammunition suggest a deliberate attempt to evade law enforcement, raising questions about Bailey’s ongoing intentions.
Federal officials are framing the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, violence prevention, and focused enforcement.
While PSN touts a holistic approach, the Bailey case underscores a familiar pattern: a repeat offender cycling through the justice system. The question remains whether a three-year sentence will be enough to prevent Bailey from returning to his dangerous activities upon release. The ATF’s Denver Field Division handled the investigation, and the case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of explosive device construction and illegal weapons possession.
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