By: Makenzie Trotter
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — A federal grand jury charged a Tulsa man this week with possessing a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and with lying to a firearms dealer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Kai Lamar Walela, 34, was charged with possessing a Rock River Arms 5.56 caliber rifle and 72 rounds of associated ammunition after a June 2018 misdemeanor domestic assault and battery conviction.
He has also been charged with knowingly making a false statement to Advanced Combat LLC, a licensed firearms dealer, by lying on the ATF Form 4473.
When Walela attempted to purchase a SOTA multi-caliber lower receiver, he allegedly failed to acknowledge that he was previously convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence.
Walela is being prosecuted as part of the Justice Department’s Project Guardian, an initiative that focuses on reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws.
“The presence of a gun during a crime of domestic violence means the chances are five times greater that the victim will be fatally shot. It also increases the chances that other victims, including children, will suffer the same fate. Project Guardian is a new initiative that we believe will save lives,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Every gun related crime or tragedy prevented through Project Guardian prosecutions is a victory for our community. We will also focus our investigative efforts on those who lie on federal firearms forms and try to buy a firearm. In these “lie and try” cases, there is no better partner than the dedicated men and women of the ATF.”
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