Pat Jarrett Helton, 43, of Amarillo, Texas, appeared in federal court yesterday and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Helton faces a maximum statutory penalty of ten years in federal prison, and a $250,000 fine. Helton will remain on bond pending sentencing set for June 6, 2017. As part of the plea, Helton signed a forfeiture agreement waiving his right to a number of items seized, including $24,783 in currency, a 1992 Lamborghini Diablo, 2012 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle, 2016 Polaris Razor, multiple vehicles and trailers.
According to documents filed in the case, on November 7, 2016, a federal search warrant was executed at Helton’s property in Mobeetie, Texas. The property included Helton’s residence and surrounding buildings. During the search, law enforcement agents located 91 firearms and large quantities of ammunition. The firearms included one shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches, one semiautomatic rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches, three stolen firearms, and at least four semiautomatic firearms that are capable of accepting large capacity magazines.
Before Helton possessed the 91 firearms, he had been convicted in 2003 of a felony offense for possession of a firearm not registered. Helton was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Taylor is in charge of the prosecution.
(Press release from office of U.S. Attorney)