Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Anthony Taylor Jr., 26, of Stockton, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to three years and one month in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, on June 20, 2013, Taylor met with an undercover ATF agent at a McDonald’s parking lot in Stockton and sold him a .45-caliber Haskell pistol for $500 plus a $100 broker fee. On July 23, 2013, Taylor again met with the undercover ATF agent in a Stockton Wal-Mart parking lot. Taylor had a revolver tucked into his pants and entered the agent’s car. The agent paid Taylor $600 plus a $100 broker fee for a .357 caliber Ladysmith revolver.

Taylor has three prior felony convictions: for second degree robbery in 2007, for receiving stolen property in 2009, and for possession of a controlled substance in 2012.

“ATF’s primary mission is to reduce violent crime and in doing so protect the citizens of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Riehl of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “We will continue to aggressively pursue these repeat offenders with our law enforcement partners and remove dangerous weapons from their grasp and hold them accountable for their crimes.”

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Christiaan Highsmith prosecuted the case.

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