Zachary Morneault, Lying to Federal Firearms Dealer, Maine 2018

A Bangor man has been convicted of lying to a federal firearms dealer in a scheme to purchase a handgun.

Zachary Morneault, 34, of Levant, Maine, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiring to make false statements to a federal firearms licensee.

According to court records, in late February 2018, Morneault conspired with two others to lie to a Brewer federal firearms licensee in connection with the purchase of a .380 caliber handgun.

In connection with that purchase, Morneault convinced Amy Bingaman to falsely represent that she was buying the handgun for herself, when, in fact, the actual buyer was another conspirator who was paying to make the purchase.

The handgun was recovered during the execution of a narcotics trafficking search warrant in Brewer.

Morneault faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Brewer Police Department, with assistance provided by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Zachary Morneault, 34, of Levant, Maine, conspiring to make false statements to a federal firearms licensee, faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

Defendant: Zachary Morneault

Criminal Charges: Conspiring to make false statements to a federal firearms licensee

City and State: Bangor, Maine

Exact Date: Late February 2018

Sentence or Outcome: Up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release

Dollar Amounts: $250,000

Defendant's Name: Zachary Morneault

Exact Criminal Charges: Conspiring to make false statements to a federal firearms licensee

City and State: Bangor, Maine

Exact Date: Late February 2018

Sentence or Outcome: Up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release

Dollar Amounts: $250,000

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/levant-man-pleads-guilty-lying-federal-firearms-dealer