A McLoud man who was arrested and charged last summer with unlawfully possessing a fully automatic weapon has been handed a federal prison sentence.
Christopher Steven Ledbetter, 29, of McLoud, was arrested June 4 by FBI agents in Oklahoma City.
On June 26 he pleaded guilty to possessing the automatic machine gun in violation of federal law.
Last Thursday, Dec. 17, U.S. District Judge Charles B. Goodwin sentenced Ledbetter to 57 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to the FBI, Judge Goodwin noted the nature and circumstances of Ledbetter’s conduct leading to his arrest, including reckless endangerment and the attempted evasion of McLoud police.
U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing said following the sentencing, “The successful prosecution of this case demonstrates that those who put our communities at risk, especially through the unlawful possession of firearms will be held accountable.
“It also emphasizes the strength of law enforcement collaboration. We are grateful to all those agencies who were invested in bringing Ledbetter to justice.”
McLoud Police Chief Wes Elliott said following the sentencing, although the federal prosecution of Ledbetter may be over, he will face state charges, possibly in the near future.
“I spoke to District Attorney Allan Grubb earlier today and we’re pursuing state charges against Ledbetter. He could face various other counts,” Elliott said.
The chief added, “If convicted on any other state charges, that prison time would come after his federal sentence.”
Elliott noted, “I would assume charges from the state would come pretty quickly from what I was told by the DA. Ledbetter may not be the only one who faces state charges,” Elliott indicated.
“We had seven other armed individuals in addition to Ledbetter come into our Police Department with him and we are optimistic to have charges filed against all of them. They have all been identified with assistance of federal agencies,” he said.
Regarding the federal prosecution of Ledbetter, according to an affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, in March 2020, the FBI learned that Ledbetter might be in possession of a fully automatic machine gun. The FBI then reviewed publicly available materials on the internet associated with Ledbetter that depicted Ledbetter on multiple occasions shooting what appeared to be a fully automatic machine gun.
Federal law prohibits the possession, except under limited circumstances, of a fully automatic machine gun as defined in the National Firearms Act. The affidavit further indicated that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched its federal licensing system. That search determined that Ledbetter did not have the required licenses to possess a machine gun.
The affidavit stated the FBI encountered Ledbetter in Oklahoma City driving a 2017 Jeep Wrangler vehicle. In the vehicle, the FBI discovered a fully automatic AK-47 style carbine machine gun.
Two days prior to Ledbetter’s arrest on June 4, the FBI, state troopers and other authorities reportedly searched the property near McLoud where Ledbetter resided.
The case is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Oklahoma City Field Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Dallas Field Division, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, as referenced in the affidavit, along with other law enforcement partners. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Dillon and Jessica Perry prosecuted the case.