KC Reporter

Two individuals in Missouri face charges for allegedly dealing firearms without a license. The indictments, returned by a federal grand jury, announced that these separate incidents occurred in the counties of Morgan and Moniteau.

In one of the cases, Aubrey Foxworthy, 81, of California, Missouri, is accused of conducting firearm transactions without the necessary federal license between June 2023 and September 2024. Furthermore, Foxworthy faces charges for possessing a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches. This rifle was reportedly not registered to him as required by federal law.

In another case, Philip Leroy Rains, 75, of Popular Bluff, Missouri, is also charged with selling firearms without a license between April 2023 and April 2024 in Morgan County.

The indictment clearly states that these charges are mere allegations until proven in court. A federal trial jury will review the evidence before determining their guilt or innocence.

If convicted for dealing firearms without a license, the individuals could face up to five years in prison and a potential fine of $250,000. The charge of possessing an unregistered firearm carries a potential 10-year prison term and a fine up to $10,000. These penalties will ultimately depend on the court following a probation investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Maness is prosecuting the cases. They were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Jefferson City Police Department, and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

The case is part of the broader Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, aiming to decrease violent crime and enhance neighborhood safety by coordinating law enforcement efforts and community involvement since its strategy revamp on May 26, 2021.