Charles Viles, Firearms Straw Purchase, Maine 2018
BANGOR, Maine – A local man has pleaded guilty to attempting to purchase firearms for a convicted felon in Palmyra, Maine.
According to court records, Charles Viles, 31, knowingly made false statements to a licensed firearms dealer in June 2018. Viles represented in writing that he was purchasing the firearms for himself, despite knowing he was buying them for someone else. That person was a convicted felon and was therefore legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms.
Viles faces up to five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Massachusetts State Police investigated the case. The Middlesex County (Massachusetts) District Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her.
Viles pleaded guilty to providing false information to a federal firearms dealer while purchasing firearms. This is a serious offense, and we will continue to work to prevent illegal firearms transactions in our community.
The case highlights the importance of responsible gun ownership and the need for strict background checks to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
Defendant: Charles Viles, 31
Criminal Charges: Providing false information to a federal firearms dealer while purchasing firearms
City and State: Palmyra, Maine
Date: June 2018
Sentence: Up to 5 years in prison, and up to $250,000 fine
Dollar Amount: $250,000
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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