Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Successfully Prosecutes Convicted Felon for Illegally Possessing Stolen Firearms

United States Attorney Steve Butler of the Southern District of Alabama announces that United States District Court Judge William H. Steele sentenced Anthony O’Brien Barlow on June 15, 2017 to serve a term of imprisonment of 65 months. Barlow was convicted of illegally possessing firearms as a felon on January 4, 2017 in violation of 18 USC § 922(g)(1). The investigation revealed that the defendant attempted to sell multiple stolen firearms. The firearms illegally possessed included a Glock GMBH, .40 caliber pistol, model 27, a Lucznik, Fabryka Broni, Makarov, 9 mm pistol, model P64, a H&K, .22 caliber rifle with silencer, model MP5, and a Ruger, .223 caliber rifle, model Mini 14. The defendant entered a guilty plea before the Court on March 16, 2017.

This prosecution is part of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and related crimes. It is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

Robert F. Lasky, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Mobile Division stated, "This type of dangerous behavior can only be stopped with a joint effort. We are committed to supporting and assisting our state and local partners in making our community safe for everyone."

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Foley Police Department, the Summerdale Police Department, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, and the Safe Streets Task Force. The case was prosecuted for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama by OCDEFT Lead Attorney, Assistant United States Attorney George F. May and Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence J. Bullard.