A man from Fredericktown, Missouri, was arraigned in federal court after being indicted for attempting to purchase a firearm while facing felony charges. William Bruce Branum, 64, is accused of submitting a false written statement to a Federal Firearms Licensee in Alton, Missouri, on April 26, 2025, as part of an effort to obtain a firearm.
The indictment against Branum was returned by a federal grand jury on July 22, 2025. According to authorities, the charge is an accusation and does not serve as evidence of guilt. The determination of guilt or innocence will be made by a federal trial jury based on the evidence presented during the trial.
If convicted under federal statutes, Branum could face up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The final sentence will be determined by the court following advisory sentencing guidelines and consideration of other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the United States Probation Office completes its presentence investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony M. Brown is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).”
