BEAUMONT, Texas — An Orange County man, who is a convicted felon, was sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation.
On Oct. 4, 2023, Michael Octavius Hampton, 51, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on April 23, 2024.
According to information presented in court, on June 26, 2023, Hampton visited a pawn shop in Orange where he frequently pawned things such as tools.
Hampton wanted to buy a pistol and provided his state ID and completed the required ATF Form 4473, according to a Eastern District of Texas news release.
On the form, Hampton said he had never been convicted of a felony, which is a requirement to buy a gun.
The pawn shop submitted the form through the National Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and received a message that the transaction was neither approved nor denied and was pending further background check, according to the release.
Because of this, the pawn shop did not give the gun to Hampton and he left.
Then on July 3, 2023, Hampton went back to the pawn shop to pick up the firearm that he had purchased, however the NICS check was still in delayed status.
But since the pawn shop had waited the required three days without a denial, the firearm was sold to Hampton, according to the release.
Hampton then took the gun, which was captured on video by the pawn shop.
Further investigation revealed Hampton was a convicted felon who had previously been convicted of murder in Jefferson County in 1995 and is prohibited from having firearms or ammunition.
Hampton was arrested by federal agents at his home on July 26, 2023, and the gun was recovered.
