Christian County, Kentucky Resident Guilty Of Possessing Multiple Firearms Including An Iraqi Machine Gun

PADUCAH, Ky. – A Christian County, Kentucky resident, pleaded guilty in United States District Court today, before Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell, to charges of possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of firearms by a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of violence, announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

Lawrence E. Bussell, age 45, pleaded guilty today, to a three count indictment, returned by a grand jury meeting in Paducah, Kentucky, on October 9, 2012. Bussell was charged with the illegal possession of eleven firearms including an AR-15 type rifle and an Iraqi machine gun, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Bussell had been previously convicted of spouse abuse on two occasions in the District Court of Christian County, Kentucky. He was convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (Assault 4th Degree) on May 13, 1994 and again on August 24, 1994.

In court, Bussell admitted to knowingly possessing, on November 5, 2009, a Yankee Hill Machine Co., Model YHM-15f, .223 caliber semi-automatic AR-15 type rifle. Further, Bussell admitted to knowingly possessing, on August 7, 2012, eleven firearms including; a Smith and Wesson, Model M&P 15m .223 caliber rifle; a Remington Arms Model 1100, 12 gauge shotgun; a Leinad, Inc., Model MM11, 9mm rifle; a Leinad, Inc., Model DS, 410 gauge shotgun; a Roman/Cugir, Model GP WASR-10, 7.62 caliber rifle; a Taurus, Model 669, .357 caliber handgun; a Mossberg, Model 500, 12 gauge shotgun; a Remington Arms, Model 870, 12 gauge shotgun; a HiPoint, Model C9, 9mm handgun; and an Iraqi unknown make and model machine gun.

Bussell faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $750,000 and supervised release of up to three years. Bussell forfeited to the United States all firearms and ammunition involved in the commission of the offenses in counts one through three of the indictment.

Bussell will be sentenced on October 10, 2013, at noon, in Paducah, by Senior Judge Russell.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James H. Barr and was investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.