A Sour Lake man has pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs on Tuesday, April 30.
Robin Lee Detwiler, 69, pleaded guilty to engaging in the business of selling firearms without a license before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson on April 30, 2024.
According to information presented in court, in March of 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) became aware of a crime that involved the use of a firearm in Canada. Federal agents traced the firearm and determined Detwiler purchased it at a pawn shop in Texas.
Further investigation revealed Dewtiler purchased multiple firearms at various pawnshops for many years. ATF agents also received information that Detwiler and was reselling these firearms at guns shows for a profit. Agents conducted undercover operations at these gun shows and observed Detwiler with a table of firearms on each occasion.
Further, Detwiler distributed business cards with his name and address in Sour Lake for future purchases. One of these gun shows was located in Beaumont, where he sold a firearm to an undercover agent. Law enforcement purchased several other firearms from Detwiler over the course of a few months, which agents verified were bought strictly for resale. Engaging in the business of selling firearms without a license is a federal crime.
Detwiler was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 12, 2023. The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing 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 U.S. Probation Office.
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.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
Well if they would apply that energy off in the projects all over the United States I’m sure they would find plenty of illegal firearm distributions . What it really is that they’re to lazy and would rather set the propaganda at this old man’s level to try and make it look like they’re working on making a difference . Just like alcohol drugs and all the laws and crimes that fall into category with each individual law this type of report is that propaganda idc if any one gets offended by my factual comment if it offended you the. You needed to read it.