Charlotte man sentenced for trafficking guns used to commit other crimes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – A Charlotte man was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday from his gun trafficking conviction earlier this year.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, court documents and court proceedings show that between 2020 and 2022, 55-year-old George Bates legally purchased dozens of firearms, which he then sold illegally to other individuals. Further, officials say Bates did not make an effort to ensure he was not selling the firearms to prohibited persons.

On March 4, Bates pleaded guilty to dealing in firearms without a license.

Court records show that some of the firearms he sold were used to commit other crimes, including shootings.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms handled the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

Bates must report to the Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell also ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.

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