Gary Loch, Gun Trafficking, California 2016

Stockton Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Gun Trafficking Crimes

A 29-year-old Stockton man has been sentenced to five years in prison for conspiring to traffic firearms without a license, possessing an unregistered automatic weapon, and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Gary Loch, a resident of both Stockton and Eugene, Oregon, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on [no date provided]. Loch was one of several Stockton-based conspirators who sold about 47 guns to an undercover agent between January and June 2016.

The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, revealed that Loch personally owned and sold three of these weapons, including a machinegun with a partially obliterated serial number. Several other firearms were automatic, carried extended magazines, or had obliterated serial numbers.

Loch was present as 31 firearms changed hands at 10 transactions in Stockton and Las Vegas, Nevada. During several of these meetings, the undercover agent said that he could not legally purchase weapons and that he would introduce the guns to the black market. Loch and others completed the purchases nonetheless.

Loch has been in custody since October 18, 2017. Nearly all of his co-defendants have been sentenced for gun-related crimes: Jason Prom received 12 years in prison. Ronnie Dethvongsa received four years and nine months in prison. Kenny Prach received three years and six months in prison. Ariana Diaz received two and a half years in prison. Sean Chaichanhda and Hilberto Arevalos received 18 months each.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Loch's sentence is a result of the renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, as directed by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in 2017.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/stockton-man-sentenced-5-years-prison-gun-trafficking-crimes