Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

TYLER, Texas – A 42-year-old Farmersville, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Craig Marcus Cooper pleaded guilty on Sep. 11, 2013, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.

According to information presented in court, on Jan. 13, 2012, Cooper and a co-defendant, Colten David Barrow, traveled together to the Dukes Truck Stop on Highway 64 in Van Zandt County, Texas to meet an individual interested in purchasing a fully-automatic machinegun and silencer for $10,000.  The prospective buyer was an undercover federal agent and Cooper and Barrow were arrested at the scene.  Further investigation revealed Barrow was a convicted felon having been previously been found guilty of criminal mischief in Collin County, Texas in 2011.  The investigation also revealed the machinegun had been reported stolen about 10 years ago.  Cooper was indicted on Mar. 27, 2013 and charged with federal firearms violations.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, ammunition and body armor, and improving the safety of residents in the Eastern District of Texas. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.

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