Stevie Marie Anne Vigil Indicted For Purchasing Firearm For Evan Ebel

DENVER – Stevie Marie Anne Vigil, age 22, of Commerce City, Colorado, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 8, 2013 on one count of knowingly transferring a firearm to a convicted felon, United States Attorney John Walsh, 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Denver Special Agent in Charge Andrew Traver announced. 

Vigil was arrested without incident this morning by ATF agents at the Arapahoe County Courthouse.  She will make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Denver this afternoon where she will be advised of her rights and the federal charges pending against her.

According to the indictment, on March 8, 2013, Vigil knowingly disposed of and transferred a firearm to Evan Ebel, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that Evan Ebel had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

“Transferring a gun to a convicted felon is a serious federal crime, period, full-stop,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.  “Federal and state authorities are working closely together to ensure that the grave crime in this case is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to participate in this collaborative and cooperative prosecution with U.S. Attorney John Walsh’s office,” said George H. Brauchler, District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District.  “Our community is well served by vigorously enforcing the laws that keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals like Evan Ebel.  Unfortunately, this case highlights the worst case scenario when criminals obtain guns.”

“Straw purchasing is not a victimless crime,” said Denver Special Agent in Charge, Andrew Traver.  “The results of this careless act can be devastating to the community, and ATF will take every step to hold those individuals who disregard the federal firearms laws accountable.”

If convicted of transferring a firearm to a felon, Vigil faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The indictment is a result of a joint federal and state investigation involving multiple agencies, including: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the Denver Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Texas Rangers, the Wise County, Texas Sheriff’s Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Vigil is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hosley, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Major Crimes Section, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hurlbert, Assistant District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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