Shawn Phillip Hansen, Possession of 42 Stolen Firearms, Utah 2015
Defendant Faces Trial on Federal Charges of Possession of 42 Stolen Firearms
A 32-year-old man from Pleasant Grove, Utah, has been charged in an indictment with stealing 42 firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in Springville. Shawn Phillip Hansen, an employee of the FFL at the time, is set to face a January 26, 2015, trial date in U.S. District Court.
According to the indictment, Hansen had 42 stolen firearms in his possession beginning on an unknown date and continuing through September 24, 2014. The second count of the indictment charges him with stealing the firearms from the FFL.
The 42 firearms, valued at approximately $100,000, include a variety of rifles, revolvers, pistols, handguns, and shotguns. The estimated value of the stolen firearms is around $100,000.
The case came to law enforcement's attention after the owner of the business determined that a firearm was missing from his inventory. Further investigation identified 42 missing firearms. The case is being investigated by the Springville Police Department and special agents of the ATF.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Carlie Christensen, the case is being prosecuted federally as a part of the Utah Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) initiative. PSN, which includes partnerships between local, state, and federal police officers and prosecutors, is designed to create safer neighborhoods through a sustained reduction in crime associated with gang and gun violence.
The potential maximum penalty for each count in the indictment is 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Hansen was released with conditions following an initial appearance on the charges.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged in indictments are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.
Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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