A former Dallas Police Department sergeant, Thomas Fry, was sentenced on April 22 to 28 months in federal prison for possession and sale of a stolen firearm, according to an announcement by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Fry, aged 53 and from Royse City, Texas, admitted to taking three firearms owned by the Dallas Police Department and selling them to an Oklahoma pawn shop in June and July of 2022. The case underscores concerns about public trust when law enforcement officers violate their oath.
“This police officer violated his oath and the public’s trust when he chose to commit a crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Our law enforcement partners work day and night to keep us safe and enforce the law, and our trust and faith in them will not waiver. We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to root out the few bad apples among their ranks.”
Brian Garner, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division said: “This case strikes at the core of public trust. The very individuals entrusted to safeguard our communities must be held to the highest standard. When that trust is violated through the theft and illegal sale of firearms, it endangers the public and undermines the integrity of law enforcement. This 28-month federal sentence sends a clear message: no one is above the law, and those who abuse their authority will be held accountable. ATF remains committed to working alongside our partners to protect our communities and prevent illegal firearms trafficking.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives worked with the Dallas Police Department during this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marty Basu prosecuted Fry's case.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas promotes community trust through outreach initiatives according to its official website. The office prosecutes federal crimes—including cases like Fry's—and manages civil litigation for government agencies according to its official website. It covers a jurisdiction spanning approximately 96,000 square miles with offices located in Dallas at Earle Cabell Federal Building as well as branches in Fort Worth, Lubbock, Amarillo and Abilene according to its official website. Serving around eight million residents across northern Texas according to its official website, it employs about 100 assistant attorneys along with support staff according to its official website.
As part of efforts within this large jurisdiction—one that includes both criminal prosecution duties as well as representing federal agencies—the office remains focused on maintaining integrity within local institutions according to its official website.
