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Mashpee Man Detected By Brady Act Instant Criminal
Background Check System Indicted For Making False Statements on Gun
Applications, Reports U.S. Attorney.
BOSTON, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- A Mashpee man was indicted today in federal district court for making false statements on gun purchase applications and for being a felon in possession.
United States Attorney Donald K. Stern; Steven J. Pirotte, Special Agent in Charge of New England Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; and Barry W. Mawn, Special Agent in Charge of the New England Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that WILLIAM PLEASANTS, age 66, of 1 Wampanoag Drive, Mashpee, was charged by a federal grand jury with 5 counts of making false statements on gun purchase applications and one count of being a felon in possession of a handgun. PLEASANTS' false statements were detected by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System or "NICS" operated by the FBI.
U.S. Attorney Stern stated: "William Pleasants' criminal past spans over 30 years yet he was able to purchase firearms through licensed dealers by lying on the application forms. The National Instant Criminal Background Check program created by the Brady Act effectively put an end to Pleasants being able to lie his way through the system. This new system helps to ensure that people who should not have guns don't get them."
The indictment alleges that PLEASANTS on five separate occasions, spanning in time from October 3, 1994 to as recently as February 27, 1999, sought to purchase firearms from licensed dealers. At the time of each purchase the dealers had PLEASANTS fill out an ATF transaction form as required by law. On each of the forms PLEASANTS was required to answer truthfully the inquiry as to whether he had ever been convicted in any court of a crime for which a judge could have imprisoned him for more that one year. On all 5 of the transaction forms PLEASANTS responded falsely with the answer "no". In fact, the indictment alleges that PLEASANTS has several previous convictions including two convictions for illegal possession of a firearm, one in 1990 in Boston Municipal Court and one in 1978 in Suffolk Superior Court. PLEASANTS also has 1967 convictions in Suffolk Superior Court for abuse of a child and rape. PLEASANTS' most recent conviction was in 1996 in Barnstable District Court for willfully and maliciously setting fire to an automobile.
The sixth count of the indictment alleges that PLEASANTS had in his possession a Harrington and Richardson shotgun and approximately 659 rounds of ammunition in violation of the federal felon in possession of a firearm statute.
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System was begun in November, 1998 under the Brady Act and is administered by the FBI. NICS requires that licensed firearms sellers have all purchasers fill out an ATF Firearms Transaction Record Form and then undergo a mandatory three day waiting period. During the waiting period the transaction form is run through the FBI criminal database. At the end of the waiting period, the seller is notified as to whether the sale can proceed or if it has been denied. On 3 occasions prior to NICS being in place PLEASANTS was able to obtain firearms through licensed dealers by responding falsely on the ATF forms. The institution of NICS allowed PLEASANTS' false statements to be detected immediately and the sale of firearms to a convicted felon was avoided.
If convicted, PLEASANTS faces a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment on each of the counts and a $250K fine.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise Jefferson Casper of Stern's Major Crimes Unit.
COPYRIGHT 1999 PR Newswire Association, Inc.in association with The Gale Group and LookSmart. COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group
