Robert Davis, Dealing Firearms Without a License, California 2022

OAKLAND – In a shocking turn of events, Robert Davis, a 31-year-old Oakland resident, was convicted of dealing firearms without a license and illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, announced Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Cicolani.

The jury found Davis guilty of selling firearms for profit that he purchased illegally in Texas, as well as possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. The jury acquitted Davis of an additional charge that Davis had possessed and shipped firearms. The verdicts followed a week-long jury trial before the Honorable Araceli Martínez-Olguín, U.S. District Judge.

Evidence presented at trial revealed that Davis would frequently travel back and forth between California and Texas, where he would purchase firearms at gun shows and then ship them back to the Bay Area for sale. Davis primarily used social media platform Instagram to advertise and sell the firearms for profit.

On December 22, 2021, law enforcement conducted a search of Davis’s residence and discovered a loaded 5.7mm firearm in his home. Additionally, over 100 rounds of ammunition were found throughout the apartment as well as in Davis’s vehicle. Due to Davis’s previous felony conviction, he was ineligible to possess the firearm and ammunition.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan Mateer and Jonah Ross are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello, Mark DiCenzo, and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the ATF, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, and Fort Worth (TX) Police Department.

Davis is currently in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. The maximum statutory penalty for the violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1)(A) is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, while the maximum statutory penalty for the violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) is ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of firearms trafficking and the importance of enforcing laws related to gun possession. As the investigation continues, it is clear that Davis’s actions have put the community at risk, and justice will be served.

With this conviction, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors demonstrate their commitment to protecting the public and upholding the law.

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