Solon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Charges

DAVENPORT, IOWA – A Solon man, Christopher Allan Hay, age 49, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 30 months in prison for Drug User in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition and Possession of Unregistered Firearms. Hay was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term as well as pay $300 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, Hay was identified by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents in San Francisco and Chicago when they located suspicious packages sent from China – addressed to Hay – believed to contain illegal firearms silencers. After investigating, CBP determined the packages contained fourteen alleged “fuel filters,” which have no filtering capability and are easily converted into firearms silencers. As such, the ATF has deemed them silencers under the National Firearms Act. As a result, law enforcement executed a valid search warrant on Hay’s residence and located 37 firearms; hundreds of rounds of ammunition; four “fuel filter” silencers, one of which was attached to a firearm; as well as 813 grams of marijuana. Two of Hay’s firearms were determined to be fully automatic machineguns, which Hay admitted he illegally converted. Hay admitted purchasing the “fuel filters” with the intent to use them as firearm silencers, knowing it was illegal to possess them without the proper ATF paperwork and approval. In addition, Hay admitted knowingly possessing, using, and distributing marijuana. On April 19, 2021, Hay pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him.

Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The United States Postal Inspection Service and Customs and Border Patrol investigated the case.