PADUCAH, KY - A federal grand jury in Paducah returned an indictment against Joseph Roman Gossett, age 32, of Paducah, Kentucky in McCracken County, on charges of transportation and shipment of stolen firearms, possession and sale of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm while a convicted felon, David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, and Paul Vido, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Louisville Field Division, jointly announced today.
The Indictment alleges that on or about October 29, 2009, Gossett knowing possessed, sold and disposed of a stolen firearm, a Smith & Wesson .357 caliber revolver which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe the firearm was stolen.
The Indictment further charges that on or about and between October 1, 2009 and November 3, 2009, Gossett knowingly transported and shipped in interstate commence, from Illinois to Kentucky, a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Norinko 7.62 caliber rifle, a Remington Arms Company 12 gauge shotgun, a Remington Arms Company 20 gauge shotgun, a Stoeger 12 gauge shotgun, a Western Arms Company 12 gauge shotgun, a New England Firearms .243 caliber rifle and a Winchester 30-30 caliber rifle, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe the firearms were stolen.
The Indictment also alleges that Gossett knowingly possessed the firearms on November 3, 2009, after convictions in September, 2003 in McCracken Circuit Court for First Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine, and of Manufacturing Methamphetamine, and a conviction in February 1998 in Circuit Court in Lawrence County, Illinois for Aggravated Battery, all of which are felonies.
In the event of a conviction, the maximum potential penalties are 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of 3 years, for each Count of the Indictment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Sparks. The Paducah Satellite Office of the Bowling Green Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation in partnership with the Massac County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office, Ballard County, Kentucky Sheriff’s Department and the Paducah Police Department, as part of ATF’s ongoing commitment to reduce violent crime and other threats to public safety.
