An Islesford resident, William Heutz, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to providing false information to a federal firearms dealer. The plea was entered on Wednesday.
Court records show that Heutz, 32, bought a Glock Model 19 9mm pistol from a licensed federal firearms dealer in February 2023. When completing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473 required for the purchase, he stated he was the actual buyer of the firearm. However, investigators obtained electronic messages indicating that Heutz had purchased the pistol for another person who supplied the money for the transaction. Heutz kept any remaining funds from the exchange and transferred the firearm to this individual.
Heutz could face up to ten years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. If convicted, he may also be subject to up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district judge after reviewing U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
The ATF conducted the investigation into this case.
A straw purchase is defined as an illegal firearm transaction where someone who cannot pass a federal background check or does not want their name linked to a gun purchase uses another person as a proxy buyer.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering cooperation between law enforcement agencies and communities. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched an updated strategy focused on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes. More details about Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psn.
