Jackson, TN – Bobby Joe Brown, 42, of Obion County, Tennessee has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of firearms, silencers and machine guns.

United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on August 7, 2018, officers with the Union City Police Department and agents with the 27th Judicial Drug Task Force and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation received information that the defendant, Bobby Joe Brown, had previously sold three guns, one of which was stolen.

Officers went to Brown’s residence in South Fulton to speak with him regarding the stolen gun. Brown agreed to speak with the officers, and he also allowed them to search his home.

During the search, officers found a small mill/drill combo machine that appeared to have been used on multiple occasions to mill and drill aluminum. Officers also observed an 80% lower receiver lying on top of a workshop table, multiple books on fully automatic firearm and suppressor manufacturing, and a plastic tote on the floor that contained several different lengths of black painted pipe that was threaded on either end, along with flashlight tubes and freeze plugs.

Officers also located several firearms, including handguns and rifles, along with many AR-15 parts, including assembled upper and lower parts kits used to fully assemble AR-15 lower receivers. One gun, a Dan Wesson .357 revolver, was found in a closet wrapped in a latex glove. That gun was reported stolen in 2008 from Obion County.

Officers also located a total of four completed suppressors, and one partially completed suppressor, one lightning link, and one drop-in auto sear (the latter items are devices that are used to turn semi-automatic AR-15 rifles into fully automatic weapons).

Officers seized all items related to Brown’s manufacturing of firearms, along with a small amount
of methamphetamine and other assorted drug paraphernalia found throughout the home.