CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – In a shocking case of deceit, Julie Anette Bailes, 25, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after providing a fictitious statement to a firearms dealer in order to purchase a gun, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Bailes misrepresented herself as the intended buyer of a .40 caliber Glock pistol at Cashland Pawn in Morgantown. In fact, she was attempting to purchase the firearm on behalf of another individual by unlawfully misleading the pawn shop firearms dealer.

This heinous crime took place in January 2015, when Bailes attempted to acquire the firearm by making false statements to the dealer. The crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mon Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

Bailes pleaded guilty in January 2015 to a criminal Information charging her with one count of ‘False Statement in Acquisition of a Firearm.’ This charge carries severe penalties, and Bailes’s sentence reflects the gravity of her crime.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government, working tirelessly to ensure justice was served. U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided over the case, imposing the sentence of 15 months in prison.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity in all aspects of life, particularly when it comes to firearms transactions. The sentence handed down to Bailes is a testament to the commitment of law enforcement and the judicial system to keeping our communities safe.

The defendant, Julie Anette Bailes, is a 25-year-old resident of Morgantown, West Virginia. She was charged with one count of ‘False Statement in Acquisition of a Firearm’ in January 2015, following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mon Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

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