Four people admit involvement with illegal sale of firearms

Shawn Stockard

Terry Lee Allen, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of unlicensed firearms dealing in connection with a line of illegal firearms, which included three other people, Tuesday, Aug. 27, in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau.

According to an Office of the United States Attorney Eastern District of Missouri news release, Allen was identified as repeatedly buying multiple firearms from licensed dealers in 2021 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The release stated, according to his plea, that the last seven guns he purchased were linked to crimes in several states.

“Six of the seven guns and 38 of the firearms Allen bought between June 24, 2018, and June 6, 2021, came from Bull Run Weaponry in Marble Hill, Missouri. Bull Run owner William Henry Otto did not report Allen’s suspicious conduct to the ATF,” the release stated.

According to the release, ATF agents bought firearms from Allen while undercover on two separate occasions, including buying two Glock pistols Dec. 2, 2021, and two Glock pistols Dec. 14, 2021, with all of those pistols Allen sold being purchased from Otto. The release stated Allen admitted to not having a Federal Firearms License.

Otto, 46, pleaded guilty Thursday, Aug. 22, to “aiding and abetting unlicensed firearms dealing” while he also admitted knowingly aiding Allen in his gun sales. According to Otto’s records, at least 199 guns were sold to Allen.

The release stated “the vast majority” of the guns Otto sold to Allen were illegally sold to others. Otto also pleaded guilty in a separate case in July, when he admittedly allowed convicted felon and Cape Girardeau restaurant owner Shawn Stockard to use his Federal Firearms License to buy firearms in Illinois. Stockard transported the guns to Missouri.

According to prior Southeast Missourian reporting, Stockard pleaded guilty in federal court “to unlawful interstate transportation of a firearm and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.” The article stated Stockard forfeited 215 firearms as a result of a plea deal and he told the officers the seller would transfer the guns to Stockard’s wife, who also is mentioned in the news release, through a background process.

Otto is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday, Nov. 21, and Allen on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The Stockards also are awaiting sentencing.