Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

WICHITA, KAN. - A Kansas store owner and a customer were sentenced Monday for violating the National Firearm Act, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Shane Cox, 45, Chanute, Kan., owner of an Army surplus store in Chanute called Tough Guys, was sentenced to two years on probation and ordered to pay an $800 special assessment. In November, a federal jury convicted him on the following charges:

• Unlawful possession of an explosive device not registered in the National Firearms Transfer Record (counts two and four).

• Unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm, short barreled rifle (count three).

• Unlawful transfer of an unregistered silencer (counts six, seven, eight, nine and 11).

• Making an unregistered silencer (count 10).

• Engaging as a dealer and manufacturer of silencers without paying a federal occupational tax (count 12).

• Unlawful possession of an unregistered silencer (count 13).

Co-defendant Jeremy Kettler, 28, Chanute, Kan., was sentenced to one year on probation and ordered to pay a $100 dollar special assessment. In November, a jury convicted him on one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered silencer (count 13).

During trial, the government presented evidence that Cox manufactured silencers and sold them without registering them. Prosecutors also presented evidence that Cox possessed explosive devices that were not registered.

Beall commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway for their work on the case.

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