Memphis, TN - A Collierville man has been convicted by a federal jury for unlawfully possessing eight firearms. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, Robert Bates, 38, of Collierville, Tennessee, unlawfully possessed eight firearms on July 9, 2015. The firearms included three pistols, four rifles and a shotgun.
Bates was the defendant in a civil action in 2015. The plaintiff obtained a judgment against Bates over unpaid attorney fees. Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) personnel, in addition to a collections attorney and a collections agent, visited Bates’ Collierville residence to execute on the civil money judgment. While at the residence, eight firearms were located in the master bedroom. Bates had previously been convicted of a felony in 2006.
On Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, a federal jury convicted Bates of eight counts of felony possession of a firearm. Each count carries a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Bates is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. on Friday, Feb. 23, 2017.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pritchard and Will Crow are prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
