Convicted Felon Indicted for Making False Statements on a Federal Background Check Form while Attempting to Purchase a Firearm

Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury returned an indictment against convicted felon Everette Alexander, 47, for making a false statement on ATF Background Check Form 4473 when attempting to purchase a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the indictment in this "lie-and-try" case today.

Count 1 charges Alexander did willfully and knowingly make and use a false writing on a federal form during the purchase of a firearmat Flash Pawn in Memphis, on December 2, 2017, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(3).

Count 2 charges that Alexander did knowingly make false and fictitious written statements on December 2, 2017, to deceive Flash Pawn that the defendant had not previously been convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(a)(6).

Count 3 charges that Alexander, having previously been convicted of a crime, did knowingly possess in and affecting interstate commerce on December 16, 2017, a Cobra .380 caliber pistol; in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).

Count 4 charges that Alexander, having previously been convicted of a crime, did knowingly possess in and affecting interstate commerce on February 12, 2018, a Cobra .380 caliber pistol; in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922 (g)(1).

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Prosecutions of violent crimes must be paired with proactive prevention efforts to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and other prohibited persons. A valuable tool in this prevention effort is the ATF Background Check Form 4473, which must be completed before a federally licensed firearms dealer sells or transfers a firearm. Criminals and other prohibited persons who attempt to thwart the background check process by lying on the required forms threaten to undermine this important crime prevention tool, and such conduct cannot be tolerated. As part of our violence reduction strategy and reinvigorated PSN efforts, we want to take guns out of the hands of dangerous people, and take violent offenders off our streets. Let this serve as a warning: This office will vigorously prosecute any prohibited persons who attempt to illegally obtain a firearm in these "lie-and-try" cases.

If convicted, the defendant faces a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison; three years supervised release and $250,000 fine.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives (ATF) investigated this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal Oldham is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.

The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.