Lincoln Gunrunner Sentenced to 42 Months for Possessing Firearms

Lincoln Gunrunner Sentenced to 42 Months for Possessing Firearms

A 35-year-old man from Lincoln, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for possessing firearms and ammunition as a prohibited person, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

Spenser Ware, formerly of Lincoln, was sentenced on May 14, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for the crime. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon handed down the sentence, which includes no parole in the federal system.

After Ware’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

The investigation into Ware’s activities began in October 2023, when investigators received information that he was building firearms and selling them to individuals who were not legally allowed to purchase them. Ware owned his own security company at the time.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ware’s residence and found five firearms, including non-serialized ‘ghost guns’ with short barrels. They also discovered 12 receivers, high-capacity magazines, body armor, more than 1800 rounds of ammunition in different calibers, holsters, firearm assembly equipment, and magazines.

Ware admitted to ordering the gun parts and assembling the firearms himself. Investigators searched his phone and found multiple images of firearms dating back to 2021. An agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives examined the firearms and ammunition and found that they were manufactured outside the State of Nebraska.

Ware has multiple felony convictions out of Florida, which prevents him from possessing firearms. He was found to have been selling guns to individuals who were not legally allowed to purchase them.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by bringing together law enforcement and the communities they serve.

The Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy in 2021, strengthening PSN based on core principles such as fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

The sentencing of Spenser Ware serves as a reminder of the consequences of possessing firearms as a prohibited person. Ware’s actions put the public at risk, and his sentence reflects the severity of his crimes.

This case highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the community in reducing violent crime and gun violence.

The Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe and to hold accountable those who break the law.

Credit: U.S. Department of Justice, USAO Nebraska