North Carolina Man Sentenced for Possession of Stolen Firearms

NORFOLK, Va. – Robert James Gibson, 25, of Roxobel, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for possession of stolen firearms. Gibson was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution for the cost of the stolen firearms and the damage done to AWH Arms during the course of the burglary.

Gibson pleaded guilty on Sept. 3, 2015. According to court documents, Gibson and a co-conspirator broke into AWH Arms in Virginia Beach and stole 22 firearms which Gibson and the co-conspirator were selling to people on the streets.  This case came to light when a drunken individual left a night club and started shooting a gun into the air.  After responding to a call about the shooting, police recovered the firearm and discovered it was stolen from the break-in at AWH Arms.  The drunken individual identified both Gibson and the co-conspirator who sold him the stolen firearm.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Charles E. Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis.  Assistant U.S. Attorney William D. Muhr prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:15-cr-69.

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