Jacksonville, Florida - Jarrod Austin (33, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
According to the plea agreement, Austin was subject to an injunction for protection against domestic violence that had issued by the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit in Nassau County on Dec. 23, 2014. The injunction specifically prohibited Austin from possessing a firearm and federal law makes it a felony for anyone who is subject to an injunction against domestic violence to possess or purchase a firearm.
In August 2019, Austin tried to buy a firearm and was denied on the background check because of the injunction. Austin contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to dispute the denial and FDLE advised Austin that he was in fact prohibited from purchasing a firearm. On Dec. 11, 2019, Austin went to a federally licensed firearms dealer in Jacksonville and again tried to purchase a firearm. Austin falsely stated on the ATF Form 4473 that he was not subject to an injunction, specifically a court order restraining him from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner. Austin was again denied on the background check and did not obtain a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce Federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the Fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of Federal, State, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
