Natchez, Miss. - Javonte Lamar Butler, 20, of Natchez, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III to 15 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for stealing a firearm from a business that is licensed to sell firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Butler was also ordered to pay a $1500 fine and $359 in restitution to the victim.
On Dec. 14, 2018, Butler visited Peddlers Antique Pawn and Salvage, a federally licensed reseller of firearms, located in Natchez, Mississippi. While a store employee assisted two other persons, Butler reached into a glass display case, removed a pistol, and left the store without lawfully purchasing it. Butler was indicted on June 14, 2019 for stealing a firearm from a business licensed to sell firearms. Butler pled guilty before Judge Bramlette on Aug. 1, 2019.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bert Carraway.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for "Empower Justice Expel Crime Together." PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
