Michael Alvin Carter, Gunrunning and Stolen Firearms Trafficking, O…

ORLANDO, FL – Michael Alvin Carter, 61, of New Smyrna Beach, is headed to federal prison after receiving a 51-month sentence yesterday for knowingly peddling firearms to a convicted felon and pushing stolen weapons onto the black market. U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. handed down the sentence, along with an order for Carter to forfeit the entire arsenal he illegally hawked.

The seized firearms include a Norinco SKS rifle, a Ruger Mini-14 rifle, a Mossberg 500A shotgun, a Yugo M58/66 7.62 caliber rifle, an H&R shotgun, a Magnum Research Desert Eagle .50 caliber handgun, a Ruger .357 SP101 revolver, and a Smith & Wesson Model 642-2 Lady Smith revolver. Each piece represents a potential threat unleashed on the streets thanks to Carter’s greed.

Carter’s downfall began in June 2012 when he sold six firearms to an individual he *knew* was a convicted felon. What Carter didn’t know? That individual was an FBI informant. A few weeks later, he doubled down on his criminal activity, selling two additional firearms to an FBI undercover officer, guns he readily admitted were stolen. The feds weren’t buying what he was selling.

The courtroom revealed a disturbing level of awareness on Carter’s part. Judge Dalton explicitly found that Carter understood the firearms he was selling would likely be used in unlawful activities by others. This wasn’t a case of ignorance; it was a calculated effort to profit from the tools of violence. The sentencing hearing made it clear Carter wasn’t just moving metal, he was enabling crime.

Carter pleaded guilty on November 25, 2014, but the wheels of justice grind slowly. The Federal Bureau of Investigation spearheaded the investigation, meticulously building a case against the New Smyrna Beach gunrunner. Assistant United States Attorney Bruce S. Ambrose prosecuted the case, securing a sentence that, while not insignificant, feels light given the potential consequences of Carter’s actions.

This case serves as a stark reminder that those who prioritize profit over public safety will face consequences. While 51 months won’t undo the damage Carter has done, it sends a message – albeit a delayed one – that firearms trafficking will not be tolerated. The Grimy Times will continue to track Carter’s case and any further developments related to this ongoing fight against illegal gun sales.