Two Missouri Individuals Charged with Dealing Firearms without a License and Other Offense

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury in separate cases this week for dealing in firearms without a license and other offense.

A California, Missouri Man Indicted for Dealing Firearms without a License and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm

According to an indictment returned this week, Aubrey Foxworthy, 81, of California, Missouri, was charged with dealing firearms in Morgan and Moniteau Counties from approximately June 2, 2023 through September 9, 2024.  He did not have a federal firearms license to deal firearms.  Foxworthy was also charged with possession of a rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches and that rifle was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

A Popular Bluff, Missouri Man Indicted for Dealing Firearms without a License

According to an indictment returned this week, Philip Leroy Rains, 75, of Popular Bluff, Missouri, was charged with dealing firearms in Morgan County from approximately April 1, 2023 through April 4, 2024.  He did not have a federal firearms license to deal firearms.

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, if convicted of dealing in firearms without a license, a prison sentence of up to 5 years and a fine of up to $250,000 is authorized.  Under federal statutes, if convicted of possession of an unregistered firearm, a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000 is authorized.  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.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Maness. These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Jefferson City Police Department, and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.