Dishonorably Discharged Man, Who Was Prohibited From Possessing Firearms, Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of 20 Firearms in Relation to a Conspiracy to Commit a Hobbs Act Robbery

      LITTLE ROCK—A man who was discharged from the U.S. Navy under dishonorable conditions was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for possession of twenty firearms. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today, by United States District Court Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.

      James Charles Hart, 26, of Wynne, was arrested on a complaint December 7, 2023. On January 9, 2024, Hart was charged in an indictment for possession of a firearm by a dishonorably discharged person. On July 2, 2024, Hart was indicted in a superseding indictment charging him with one count of possession of a firearm by a dishonorably discharged person and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. On January 6, 2025, Hart plead guilty to possession of a firearm by a dishonorably discharged person.

      In addition to the 144-month sentence, Judge Rudofsky also sentenced Hart to 3 years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

      Hart was dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Navy on August 26, 2021, after being convicted for advocating supremacist and extremist doctrine, ideology and causes, larceny of military property, and selling firearms without a license. Hart’s conduct included advocating killing military members and encouraging others to take up the cause and recruit others. During the court martial, Hart told the presiding judge that the statement was not made in gest. Because of his dishonorable discharge, Hart was advised he was not allowed to possess firearms after his discharge from the Navy.

      An investigation by the FBI revealed that on April 2, 2023, Hart entered the driveway of a residence dressed in a tactical vest and carrying an AR pattern firearm with approximately ten loaded magazines, approached the resident and stated that he was “patrolling this neighborhood” for looters. Hart stated that he was protecting the neighborhood. The resident advised Hart to leave his property and that he never requested Hart to provide any protection.

      On December 7, 2023, FBI special agents arrested Hart while he was a passenger in another’s car. During a search incident Hart’s arrest, FBI found a firearm associated with Hart. Armed with a search warrant, FBI searched Hart’s personal car and Hart’s residence. In total, Hart possessed 20 firearms between the two vehicles and his residence. Hart possessed numerous Glock and Sig Sauer handguns, shotguns, AR and AK pattern rifles, and numerous other firearms, including NFA weapons. Hart also possessed thousands of rounds of ammunition, loaded and unloaded magazines, ballistic helmets, body armor, gas masks, confederate and Nazi flags, and tactical gear.

      During a subsequent search of Hart’s phone, FBI discovered a conspiracy to commit a robbery between Hart and members of a militia to target in Tennessee.

      This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Crews.

# # #

This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available on-line at

http://www.justice.gov/edar

X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR