Savannah Man Pleads Guilty To Armed Bank Robbery

AUGUSTA, GA – An indictment was returned yesterday by a federal Grand Jury sitting in Savannah, Georgia against William Arnold Debow, 53, a federally licensed firearms dealer who was doing business as The Ponderosa Trading Company.  Debow was charged with 28 counts of knowingly transferring a firearm to a convicted felon and with 10 counts of illegally transferring a handgun to out of state residents.

Knowingly transferring a firearm to a felon carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000 for each count.  Illegally transferring a handgun to an out of state resident carries a maximum 5 year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine for each count.  United States Attorney Edward Tarver emphasized that the indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by the ATF.  For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.