Arrests target illegal firearms

Tue, Sep 18, 2007
By EMILY STRANGER

The Brunswick News

Federal and local police are doing their part to keep guns out of the possession of those who are not supposed to have them in the Golden Isles.

In separate incidents in recent days, a man was indicted in federal court for buying guns for an illegal alien, and a convicted Florida felon was arrested by city police after they allegedly found a high-powered rifle in his possession.

In federal court, Tom Wiley Smith of Brunswick was indicted for allegedly supplying 11 firearms to an illegal immigrant in Glynn County. He was indicted Sept. 12 by a federal grand jury in Brunswick.

It is against the law for iIlegal immigrants to possess or purchase firearms in the United States. Guns confiscated, all of which were purchased from pawn shops in January, include .357 caliber revolver and two Cobra .380-caliber pistols.

At the Glynn County Detention Center, Antonio Dewayne Tobler, 20, who served time in prison on a felony charge, remained behind bars Monday after city police allegedly found him in possession of a .50-caliber rifle while walking on Ellis Street Friday afternoon. During World War II, high-powered .50-caliber rifles were used by snipers and to pierce light armor.

The federal grand jury indicted Smith on four charges of making a false statement in the acquisition of a firearm, five counts of transfer of a firearm to an illegal alien, and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Smith allegedly purchased six of the 11 guns at four different pawn shops in Glynn and Camden counties. Several of the purchases were made within days of each other, court documents show.
According to the indictment, Smith purchased them for Jesus Bonilla Gutierrez, aka. "Chewie" and "Monze."

Gutierrez is an illegal immigrant.

Smith also allegedly supplied Gutierrez with five additional firearms before April 26, according to the indictments. The documents did not indicate if Smith already owned the guns prior to selling them to Gutierrez or if he purchased them in out-of-state pawn shops for Gutierrez.

The guns included two Raven .25-caliber pistols, one Smith and Wesson .357 caliber revolver, a Marlin .22-caliber rifle, and a Lorcin .25-caliber pistol. The serial number had been removed from the Lorcin pistol, according to the documents.

In the city, Brunswick police say they stopped Antonio Tobler after he walked from behind a house in the 1900 block of Ellis Street and found the .50-caliber wrapped in a red t-shirt. The butt of the gun was sticking out, police said.

Tobler, who lives in McIntyre Court with his mother, gave police several stories before telling them his real name and address. He has numerous misdemeanor convictions and one felony conviction of burglary. All prior incidents occurred in Florida, police said.

Tobler was charged with making a false report and giving false information, carrying a concealed weapon, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

In its indictment against Tom Wiley Smith of Brunswick, the federal government alleges Smith purchased guns from a number of pawn shops in Glynn and Camden counties.

* Jan. 8, Mr. Pawn Depot, Brunswick; purchased were two Raven .25-caliber pistols

* Jan. 10, Mr. Pawn Depot, Brunswick; purchased one Raven .25-caliber pistol

* Jan. 22, T and C Pawn World, St. Marys; purchased two Cobra .380-caliber pistols

* Jan. 23, Coastal Loan and Jewelry, Kingsland; Lorcin .25-caliber pistol.

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