CAPE GIRARDEUA, Mo. (News First) – A federal judge on Tuesday in Cape Girardeau sentenced a convicted felon caught buying and selling guns to 72 months in prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office provides more in a news release.
Shawn Dennis Stockard’s sentence consists of 54 months on one count of unlawful interstate transportation of firearms and a consecutive 18 months on a charge of possession with the intent to sell controlled substances. Stockard was also fined $85,000.
The 53-year-old pleaded guilty to both charges, in separate cases, back in June. As part of his plea, he agreed to forfeit 215 firearms, firearms accessories and a large amount of ammunition worth at least $230,000 that was seized during the investigation. Stockard used the Federal Firearms License belonging to William Henry Otto, the owner of Bull Run Weaponry in Marble Hill,, to buy firearms at an auction house in Illinois. Stockard brought the guns to Missouri and transferred them to his wife by Otto. ATF agents learned of gun sales by Stockard and of his connection to Otto in early 2022.
During a court-approved search of Stockard’s home in Cape Girardeau County, they found the firearms and accessories and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Otto, who is 46 and Stockard’s wife have also pleaded guilty and await sentencing and a fourth person, Terry Lee Allen, also awaits sentencing. The 38-year-old Allen repeatedly bought multiple firearms from licensed dealers. He was the last known purchaser of seven guns linked to crimes in several states, six of which originally came from Bull Run Weaponry. Otto’s records show he sold at least 199 guns to Allen, the vast majority of which Allen then illegally sold to others. Allen has pleaded guilty to unlicensed firearms dealing. For News 1st, I’m Luke Turnbough reporting.
