According to reports, Marcus Braziel, 45, pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from his illegal sell of an AR-15 to the Odessa mass shooter Seth Ator. Court documents state that Braziel sold the gun to Ator back in late 2016, roughly three years before his August 2019 shooting rampage with the weapon purchased from Braziel.
Ator was reportedly adjudicated as "mentally defective" which barred him from purchasing a firearm. He attempted to buy the gun at a local sporting goods store but was rejected for his mental status. Ator later found Braziel who was willing to sell him the AR-15 without a background check, something Braziel admitted to doing often.
“As this case makes clear, dealing firearms without a license isn’t some obscure, technical violation. It is unlawful conduct that has real-world impact and the potential for devastating results,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nealy Cox. “If you’re a firearms dealer – whether you’re selling out of a brick-and-mortar store, in your basement, or online – you must ensure that a background check is conducted on your purchasers.”
Braziel now faces up to five years in federal prison though a sentencing date has not yet been set.
Source: youtube.com
