Significant Firearms Cases Conducted in South Carolina Involving Interstate Traffic of Handguns to Northern States Since Enactment of the Gun Control Act

Number of firearms incolved

9, 400

1,000

20,000

Case and defendants SC-941-FFA-James Ernest Baker, Lindsy Jack Robbins. During 1968, Robbins, a licensee, and Baker, a nonlicensee, conspired to dispose of approximately 9,400 firearms that were purchased in the Greenville, Spartanburg, Rock Hill, and Columbia areas to North Carolina residents, who, in turn, disposed of the firearms to residents of New York and New Jersey. On June 15, 1970, both defendants were sentenced to 5 yrs probation each-SC-1051-T-I—John Edward Lezan, James Pruitt. During 1969 and until January 1970, Lezan, a licensee, sold 4,400 handguns to James Pruitt, Casar, N.C., a nonlicensee, and Pruitt disposed of the firearms in North Carolina and other northern States. On Sept. 14, 1970, Lezan was placed on 3 yrs probation. Pruitt prosecuted in North Carolina. 4, 400 290401731524J-Alton Stegall, Randall Sauls, Jr. In February 1970, the above 2 individuals falsified a certified copy of a firearms license by altering a valid copy and reproducing it on a Xerox machine. Stegall used the alias of James Guy Wilson and purchased 1,000 handguns in Greenville and Matthews, N.C., and sold them to Bobby Thomas Ward, Drexel, N.C., who disposed of them......... SC-1448-T-I-Joseph Lemoyne Tompkins, et al. From June 1, 1970 to May 16, 1971, Joseph L. Tompkins, a licensed firearms dealer and owner of the Golden Strip Hobby Center, Simpsonville, S.C., illegally sold approximately 20,000 handguns, 14,000 to Bobby T. Ward and other North Carolina residents. Also involved was Blakely Roberts, Greenville, S.C. a licensed firearms dealer. Tompkins received a 2-yr prison sentence and $5,000 fine. Roberts received 5 yrs probation. Seizures of the above weapons were made in New York and North Carolina and most often in connection with crimes of murder, armed robbery, and assault_ 290201730517W-Daniel Williams, Donald Ezell Flowers. In August 1972, Donald Flowers of Sumter, S.C. purchased 17 handguns for Daniel Williams, a resident of New York City. Williams was arrested on Aug. 27, 1972, in Fayetteville, N.C., as he was transporting the firearms to New York City aboard a Greyhound bus. On Feb. 23, 1973, Flowers was sentenced to 2 years, suspended and placed on 3 years probation. On Apr. 20, 1973, Williams was sentenced to 2 years, after service of 6 months, placed on probation.. 290201720552A-Jacob Fleming. Jacob Fleming, a resident of Sumter, S.C., purchased 38 firearms that were apparently resold in New York City. Three of the firearms were used in various crimes in the city of New York, two were used to fire into a New York City police car, wounding a policeman, and the third used in a New York City bank robbery SC-1497-T-I-Alfred Cain, et al. In May 1972, Alfred Cain and Anthony Cain, along with Jessie Cain, New York residents, came to Columbia, S.C., and hired Columbia residents to purchase firearms for them which were to be transported back to New York City. Information available indicated the Cains were connected with a militant group in New York City and that the firearms purchased in South Carolina were for use by militants. Alfred Cain received 5 years; Anthony Cain received 5 years; James Belton, 4 years, and James Seabrooks 2 years. 260201730001B-Larry Eugene Searcy, Dean Ledbetter, et al. Firearms were purchased in Greenville, S.C., and transported to North Carolina and then to New York City. As of January 1973, New York City police had seized at least 122 of these firearms. They were used in crimes of violence in New York. This case was tried in the Western District of North Carolina in July 1973 and the following sentences were given: Bobby J. Scates, Larry E. Searcy, Chester Ray Looney, Henry and Dean Dean Ledbetter, all North Carolina and South Carolina residents, and Edwin Acevedo and German Rosairo, New York City residents, each received 5 y、 ars in prison..

17

38

20

20

3, 576

Significant Firearms Cases Conducted in South Carolina Involving Interstate Traffic of Handguns to Northern States Since Enactment of the Gun Control Act-Con.

Case and defendants

290201730568U-William Hoyle Benton. During February 1973, Benton,
a resident of Matthews, N.C., fraudulently obtained a South Carolina
driver's license and purchased 44 firearms from a licensed dealer in
Rock Hill, S.C. Benton transported these firearms to North Carolina
where they were sold at a profit.
290103730011S-I rael Green. During the early part of 1973, Israel
Green, the common-law husband of Sarah Brown, Cha leston's No. 1
narcotics dealer, purchased eight handguns at Charleston, S.C. by
falsifying Formis 4473, inasmuch as he is a convicted felon (murder)
currently on probation from New Jersey court for carrying a concealed
weapon. This case was not successfully prosecuted because the agents
were unable to secure court records of the conviction of Green. The
above information was supplied to the probation office for a possible rev-
ocation of probation__
290105730002C9-Bennett Wesley Cook. Bennett Wesley Cook, a resi-
dent of New York City and an alleged member of the Black Liberation
Army purchased two handguns in Charleston, S.C., and transported
them to New York City. One of the firearms was recovered after New
York City police engaged in a gun battle with four negro males of the
Black Liberation Army. Received 1 year
290401731551W-Edward Abbott, Sylvia K. Abbott. This lengthy inves-
tigation was completed on Apr. 25, 1973. Both Abbotts are licensed
dealers in firearms at Greenville, S.C. This investigation revealed that
they were illegally selling firearms to out of State residents, convicted
felons, and other persons prohibited from receiving firearms under the
Gun Control Act. Numerous persons were hired by Edward Abbott to
sign forms 4473 for fictitious purchasers. The investigation has revealed
that some of the weapons acquired from Abbott have gone into the
Philadelphia, Pa., area and also into North Carolina, Virginia, New
Jersey, and New York.
290104730006 M-James Brown. Plead guilty (rule 20). Walter Johnson/
aka Elmore Thompson. During April 1973, the above individuals, resi-
dents of New York City, purchased approximately 12 firearms at
Charleston, S.C., and transported them to New York City. One Enforcer
Carbine with a silencer attached and three handguns purchased at
Charleston have been recovered in New York City and were involved
in a crime of kidnapping. The subjects are alleged to be associated with
a group known as the Black Mafia in Harlem_
290312731023S-Wei H. Chen, Wai Fai Goon, Jung H. Leung, Chung
Ling Tsang, Isiah Hamlin. During December 1973, Isiah Hamlin, a
South Carolina resident, purchased firearms for above Chinese in-
dividuals, residents of New York City. After purchase of firearms, they
went to Hamlin's residence where the serial numbers on each firearm
were ground off. The firearms were then hidden in the air-conditioner of
a New York registered 1969 Pontiac. The Chinese defendants then left
the area proceeding north. They were arrested when they crossed into
North Carolina. Hamlin was arrested by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
and Firearms special agents the following day. Further investigation
revealed the Chinese subjects are alleged to be members of a Chinese
New York street gang called "Ghost Shadows". Additional intelligence
indicates that since Jan. 1, 1973, 27 Chinese subjects who either are
gang members or are connected with members of Chinese gangs have
been arrested by the New York City Police Department and found to
possess weapons with obliterated serial numbers. Also, Boston police
recently arrested seven members of the "Ghost Shadow" gang and
found a quantity of weapons with obliterated serial numbers. An
unspecified number of Chinese subjects have been arrested by local
police in the States of Vermont and Florida with weapons with ob-
literated serial numbers. The New York groups are affiliated with
gangs bearing the same name in other cities that have large Chinese
populations. Each gang operates separately under its own leadership
with no central head. The weapons are used by Chinese street gangs in
connection with robberies, extortion, gang homicides, etc --

Number of firearms

involved

44

8

1,000

12

6

Significant Firearms Cases Conducted in South Carolina Involving Interstate Traffic of Handguns to Northern States Since Enactment of the Gun Control Act-Continued

Number of firearms involved

Case and defendants

290304731049S-Lawrence Halcond, alias Ray Finch, alias Larry Williams alias Frank Brown. During late 1972 and early 1973, Lawrence Halcond, a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., came to South Carolina and had local residents purchase eight handguns and eight boxes of ammunition which Halcond transported to New York. Halcond was arrested Nov. 1, 1973, at his Brooklyn residence charged with the South Carolina violation, and held under $10,000 bond. He has a long criminal record and is an exheroin addict. Case pending. Halcond is to appear in U.S. District Court in Columbia, S.C__

8

39, 531

Total number of firearms involved in above captioned cases-----STATEMENT OF ROBERT P. LANE, SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND FIREARMS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA DISTRICT OFFICE, SOUTHEAST REGION

BIOGRAPHY

Robert P. Lane was born in Washington, D.C. on March 19, 1922.

He entered service with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in June, 1951. He has served in field and supervisory positions in the States of Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia.

He has served as Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta, Georgia, since January, 1965.

STATEMENT

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: I am Robert P. Lane, Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta, Georgia. My responsibilities relate to the supervision of personnel who enforce the laws in the State of Georgia for which the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is responsible.

There are 5726 Federal Firearms Licensees in Georgia, about 1200 of these licensees are in metropolitan Atlanta. There are twelve Special Occupation Tax holders in Georgia-dealers in Title II weapons (also manufacturers). There are approximately 760 handgun dealers licensed by the state of Georgia.

PROJECT I ATLANTA

Project I was implemented on May 21, 1973, in Atlanta, Georgia, with the cooperation of the Atlanta Police Department and was carried on for a period of eight months with the termination of the Project in January, 1974. A total of 264 criminal investigations were conducted by ATF Special Agents resulting in 38 criminal cases being made and 43 persons being arrested. The cases prepared for prosecution were directed toward violence prone felons. Twenty stores on the fringe of the transitional business and commercial sections of downtown Atlanta and located within a half mile of one another were the sources of the majority of firearms. The typical firearms outlets identified in the Project are noted below.

Principal customers were in the lower economic strata. The typical firearm used in the violation was a short barrel .22 caliber revolver of U.S. manufacture. In 40% of the cases made the felon purchased the firearm direct from the licensee. Approximately 80% of the firearms traced originated in the metro-Atlanta area.

The "variety" store listed above received a compliance investigation and approximately fifty forms 4473 were incomplete or the form was filled out improperly. A criminal case was prepared involving the variety store.

Characteristics of the type of firearm sold by this store are noted below.

The barrel length of the firearms varied from 11⁄2 inches to 4 inches with the majority having barrel lengths of 14 to 2 inches.

COURT DISPOSITION OF PROJECT I CASES

TITLE I CASES

2103 0973 0135Z, Montana Bryant, 4-5-74 RG; 2 years CAG.

2103 0973 0136C, Preston Slaton, 4-5-74 PG; 3 years CAG, sent. susp. 2 years probation.

2103 0973 0211S, Robert L. Nash, 4-5-74 PG; 6 months CAG.

2103 1073 0126Y, Bell Loan (Alfred Schwartz), 2-5-75 PG; 3-28-75 sent. 1 year each count (4) to run concurrent; sent. susp. to 1 year probation & $250.00 fine each counts 1 & 3.

2103 1073 0187V, Asa V. Vancey, 6-21-74 PG; 1 year and 1 day CAG, sent. susp. to 1 year probation.

2103 1073 0188Y, Grover Owensby, pending.

2103 1173 0084K, Walter Hawkins, 5-17-74 PNG, JVG; 3 years CAG, sent. susp. to serve 6 months and be placed on probation 18 months.

2103 1173 0102R, Joe Lee Bishop, 4-1-74 PG; 5 years CAG, sent. susp. to 5 years probation.

2103 1273 0010H, Robert L. Binns, 4-5-74 PG; 3 years CAG. sent. susp. 2 years probation.

2103 1273 0022N, Eddie B. Jones, pending.

2103 1273 0057B, Henry Thomas, 5-9-74 PG; 5 years CAG; sent. susp. to serve 6 months, 3 years probation to submit to drug treatment on release.

2103 1273 0058E, Thomas C. Payne, indicted 6–4–74.

2103 0274 0011R, Cecil H. Brown, 9-18-74 PG; 2 years CAG; sent. susp. 4 months to serve, probation 3 years.

TITLE II CASES

2103 0773 0044K, Silas S. Jamison, Ronald R. Cook, as to each: 12-14-73 PNG, JVG: 2 years CAG sent. susp. 3 years probation with provision they possess no firearms.

2103 0174 0048G, Jerald J. Dorsey, 7-25-74 PG; 3 years CAG.

2103 0174 0049K, Kenneth Stafford, 6–17-74 PG; 10 months CAG to run conc. with present state sentence.

2103 0174 0056Z, Earnest A. Wilson, 6-7-74 PG; sentenced CAG under Youth Corrections Act.

2103 0174 0061G, Henry J. Mason, 9-18-74 PG; 2 years CAG sent. susp. 3 years probation.

2103 0274 0021P, Emory L. Sawyer, Stephan W. Perry, as to Sawyer: 6-5-74 dismissed by U.S. Attorney. As to Perry: pending.

2103 0374 0009W, John H. Moreland, 5-7-74 indicated.

TITLE VII CASES

2103 1073 0014P, James E. Clowers, 1-23-74 indicted; prosecution deferred 1 year from 9-27-74.

2103 1073 0069A, Hardy Blash, pending.

2103 1073 0189B, Raymond M. James, 5-7-74 closed without prosecution.

2103 1173 0036X, Eddie L. Parker, 5-30-74 PG ; 2 years CAG.

2103 1173 0037A, Ollie D. Moses, 3-11-74 PG; 3 months CAG.

2103 1173 0073H, Roy Woods, 4–5–74 PG ; 2 years CAG to run consecutive to state sentence.

2103 1173 0085N, Frankie Thomas, 4-16-74 indicted.

2103 1273 0009N, Willie Richardson, 7-29-74 PG; 2 years CAG sent, suspended 6 months CAG, 2 years probation.

2103 1273 0011L, Ronnie Corbin, 7-29-74 PG; 2 years CAG to begin expiration present state sentence.

2103 1273 0025Y, Willie Gaines, 5-17-74 PNG; 10-6-74 JVG, 12-24-74 judgement of acquittal granted.

2103 1273 0027E, William Bronson, 9-6-74 PG; 2 years CAG sent. suspended 5 years probation.

2103 0174 0012R, Leo Blount, Jr., 9-18-74 PG; 1 year CAG.

2103 0174 0023T, Carlton S. Redding, 4-74 indicted.

2103 0174 0027F, Willie F. Hood, 9-10-74 indictment dismissed by judge. 2103 0174 0031K, Henry Miller, 6-4-74 indicted.

2103 0174 0007P, James C. Maloyd, pending.

TITLE I AND II CASES

2103 1173 0106D, Willie Thomas, 7-29-74 JVG; 7 years CAG.

TITLE I AND VII CASES

2103 1073 0068X, Richard A. Drain, 6-21-74; PG; 2 years CAG, time served 74 days; sent. susp. 2 years probation. Willie Drain, 6-21-74 JVG; 18 months CAG sent. susp. 18 months probation.

On September 1, 1973, the Interstate Firearms Theft Program was expanded into a Nationwide Project. Our Special Agents contacted 143 terminal transport managers in Georgia and solicited their cooperation. Each was given a poster to display warning against interstate firearms thefts. They were also furnished with a supply of Forms 46, Report of Theft or Loss of Firearms, to be used in reporting thefts.

Since the inception of the program, our Special Agents have conducted 49 investigations of theft involving from, one to 65 firearms. Further, the Georgia District Office has entered into NCIC a total of 276 firearms reported stolen.

SIGNIFICANT FIREARMS CASES

The following are resumes of some of the more significant firearms cases made in Georgia since the inception of the Gun Control Act.

(2107-1174-2522C) U.S. vs. Clyde Messer-On December 9, 1974, Clyde Messer, Route 1, Young Harris, Georgia, was arrested for Title I violations. Messer, who is not a Federally licensed firearms dealer, had previouosly sold firearms to undercover Special Agents. Also, 40 firearms and 2,350 rounds of ammunition were seized as a Federal search warrant was executed at the Messer residence at the time of arrest. Over 100 firearms were known to have been bought by Messer since July, 1973. None of these firearms were among those seized. Messer admitted to selling between 300 to 400 firearms since July, 1973. He also admitted purchasing some firearms from a dealer in Butler, Alabama, and falsifying the Forms 4473 at the time of purchase. A collateral investigation was initiated concerning the violation.

Clyde Messer entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court and received a sentence of three years probation.

(2106-0173-1524H) U.S. vs. John Talmadge Attaway, Jr.. et. al.-From November 16, 1972, until February 8, 1973, undercover officers purchased