LONDON, KY - The U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Kentucky is reporting that two local men, Wayne Tackett, 64, of Harold, Ky., and Carlos Hall, 72, of Prestonsburg, Ky., were indicted on Thursday, by a federal grand jury sitting in London, for illegally selling firearms.
Specifically, the indictment alleges that Tackett and Hall, who were not licensed firearms dealers, aided and abetted each another to engage in the business of dealing firearms. Separately, the indictment charges Tackett with six counts of knowingly selling firearms to a convicted felon and one count of trafficking in firearms. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of more than 80 firearms.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the indictment.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by ATF. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble.
A date for Tackett and Hall to appear in court has not yet been determined. They each face a maximum of five years in prison for the engaging in the business with firearms without a license. Tackett also faces a maximum of 15 years for each additional charge. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
This case is being prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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