Dallas agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arrested Demontre Antwon Hackworth, 31, on Friday for alleged illegal firearms trafficking.
Hackworth apparently purchased 72 out of his 92 firearms from a single dealer, Triggernometry Arms in Waxahachie, which later surrendered its federal gun dealer license. All but five of the firearms were handguns.
A recent U.S. Department of Justice press release reported that Hackman was allegedly involved in selling hundreds of firearms used in crimes across the Dallas metroplex and beyond. According to the DOJ, 16 firearms apparently sold by Hackworth are linked to homicide and drug charges across Texas, Maryland, and even Canada.
On September 30, one of the firearms allegedly connected to Hackworth was used to kill a woman in Arlington. Kier Solomon, 21, was shot and killed in her car, with no motives or possible suspects being named, according to Dallas Voice.
Because he had a license to carry, Hackworth was exempted from traditional background checks by Texas law, the Dallas Morning News reported, which allowed him to purchase and allegedly sell the firearms to individuals with restricted access.
“The second amendment protects the rights of law-abiding citizens—but not prohibited persons, or those who arm them,” stated U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham.
While he had a license to carry firearms, Hackworth did not have a license to sell them. Nor did he perform any background checks on his buyers, the DOJ claims.
Hackworth’s arrest is part of the ATF’s motion to crack down on firearms trafficking.
“Illegal firearms trafficking is not a victimless crime,” asserted Special Agent in Charge Jeff Boshek of the ATF’s Dallas Field Division. “There are real consequences when individuals illegally engage in the business of buying and selling firearms.”
The ATF will continue using “all available resources to strategically target and identify illegal firearms sales, trafficking patterns, and sources of crime guns,” Boshek assured the public in the press release.
Hackworth made his initial appearance on Monday, June 13, in the Northern District of Texas court. If found guilty, he could face up to 35 years in prison.
