Willie Lee Wartson Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of Stolen F…

Possession of a stolen firearm has landed a Muskogee man in federal prison for 10 years. WILLIE LEE WARTSON, age 42, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release for Possession of Stolen Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(j).

The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The defendant pled guilty in September, 2013.

The Information alleged that on or about February 13, 2013, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce, the following stolen firearm which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce, to-wit: one Titan, model Tiger, .38 Special caliber revolver, serial number 0095230, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe the firearm was stolen.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. The defendant will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending transportation to the designated federal prison at which he will serve his nonparolable sentence.

Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Henson represented the United States. The sentencing of Wartson serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of possessing stolen firearms.

The investigation and subsequent sentencing of Wartson demonstrate the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat firearm-related crimes. The Muskogee Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration worked together to bring Wartson to justice.

The case against Wartson highlights the importance of enforcing federal firearm laws. The possession of stolen firearms poses a significant threat to public safety, and it is crucial that law enforcement agencies continue to work together to prevent and prosecute these crimes.