Fredericktown Man Charged with Attempting to Purchase Firearm While Charged with Felonies

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Fredericktown, Mo., man was arraigned in federal court yesterday following an indictment by a federal grand jury for attempting to buy a firearm while he had pending felony charges.

William Bruce Branum, 64, was charged in a single count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 22, 2025. The indictment alleges that on April 26, 2025, Branum, submitted a false written statement to a Federal Firearms Licensee in Alton, Mo., in an attempt to acquire a firearm.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Under federal statutes, Branum is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony M. Brown It was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).