Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

DALLAS — A Grand Prairie, Texas, man who unlawfully sold firearms on the Internet, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 63 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Robert Confalone, 40, pleaded guilty in February 2016 to one count of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.  He admitted that prior to and through October 26, 2015, he used the Internet to market and attempt to sell firearms using the website “Instagram.”  He was not a licensed firearms dealer.

When special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed a search warrant at his residence on October 26, 2015, they located approximately 40 firearms, along with ammunition.  Agents also found a personal use amount of marijuana in Confalone’s vehicle that Confalone admitted he used regularly while he possessed the firearms.

Confalone was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence at the end of Monday’s sentencing hearing.

ATF and the Grand Prairie Police Department investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Penley was in charge of the prosecution.

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