Criminal arrested with 215 firearms sentenced to 6 years in prison

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) – A convicted felon for buying and selling firearms was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday, Sept. 17.

Shawn Dennis Stockard, 53, was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for illegally transporting firearms interstate and 1.5 years in prison for possession with intent to sell controlled substances. He was also fined $85,000.

Stockard pleaded guilty to both counts, in separate cases, in June.

According to a statement from Sayler Fleming, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, Stockard agreed as part of his plea agreement to forfeit 215 firearms, firearm accessories and a large quantity of ammunition valued at at least $230,000 that were seized during the investigation.

Stockard was accused of using a federal firearms license belonging to William Henry Otto, owner of Bull Run Weaponry in Marble Hill, to purchase firearms at an Illinois auction house. Stockard brought the guns to Missouri and gave them to his wife through Otto.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives learned that Stockard was selling guns and had connections to Otto in early 2022.

During a search of his home in Cape Girardeau County, they found firearms, accessories and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

William Henry Otto, 46, and Stockard’s wife have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

A fourth person, Terry Lee Allen, is also awaiting sentencing.

Allen, 38, repeatedly purchased multiple firearms from licensed dealers. He was the last known purchaser of seven guns linked to crime scenes in multiple states, six of which originally came from Bull Run.

Otto’s records show that he sold at least 199 firearms to Allen, the vast majority of which were sold illegally to others.

Allen pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of trafficking in firearms without a license.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis is prosecuting the case.