Conley Dale Patterson, Dealing Firearms Without a License, North Carolina 2016

An Asheville man was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger to 48 months in prison for dealing in firearms without a license.

Conley Dale Patterson, 72, was also ordered to serve three years under court supervision upon completion of his prison term and to pay $2,300 as restitution.

Patterson is the owner of the 'Asheville Combat Zone,' located at 1472 Patton Avenue in Asheville. The business sells a variety of military surplus equipment and other items.

According to court records, from July 2009 to October 2014, Patterson engaged in the business of dealing in firearms from his store without possessing a Federal Firearms License (FFL).

A previous warning by law enforcement that he was prohibited from dealing in firearms without being a licensed dealer did not deter Patterson, as he continued to engage in a pattern of selling multiple firearms without an FFL, including selling firearms to convicted felons.

During the investigation, law enforcement recovered from Patterson's store at least 10 firearms, including seven rifles, two shotguns and a pistol.

Patterson pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license in August 2016.

He will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence upon designation of a federal facility. All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/asheville-man-sentenced-dealing-firearms-without-license-0