Bossier City resident pleads guilty to selling firearms to out-of-state resident at gun show

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a Louisiana resident pleaded guilty to selling firearms to an out-of-state resident.

Thomas Cleve Veillon, 68, of Bossier City, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of sale of a firearm to an out-of-state resident. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Veillon had numerous firearms for sale at a June 27, 2015 gun show in Shreveport.  He was not a federally licensed firearms dealer.  Veillon sold a .270 caliber rifle and a Glock .45 caliber pistol to a resident of Arkansas, knowing that the buyer resided out-of-state.

Veillon faces up to five years in prison, one to three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of January 4, 2016 was set.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm and to promote firearm safety.

The ATF conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. is prosecuting the case.