Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury today indicted a Talladega man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Acting Special Agent in Charge Toby Taylor.

A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Larry Dewayne Gaither, 43, with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the indictment, Gaither is prohibited from having a firearm because of prior felony convictions and is accused of unlawfully possessing an American Tactical .223 and 103 rounds of Wolf Performance .223 caliber ammunition in January 2020.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from the following Project Guardian partners: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives and Firearms. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples is prosecuting.

An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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