Jail Time For Gun-Running Harris Teeter Manager In North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA — A 37-year-old manager of a North Carolina Harris Teeter grocery store has been sentenced to 30 months in jail for his role in an illegal gun pipeline that sold firearms in Washington, D.C. and Maryland, some of which were used in crimes, the Department of Justice said Tuesday.

William John Shaw, 37, was a co-manager of a Raleigh Harris Teeter store for more than three years when he was accused of the crime in December by the U.S. Attorney's Officer of Eastern District of North Carolina on eight counts of making false statements during the purchases of firearms.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) identified Shaw as a suspect in an investigation after numerous firearms were recovered in Washington, D.C. and Maryland.

"Investigators determined that between 2013 and 2019, Shaw had purchased numerous firearms at various stores and pawn shops located in Wake County and Johnston County and sold those firearms to individuals in Washington, D.C., and Maryland," DOJ said in a statement. "During these firearm purchases, Shaw knowingly made false statements related to the acquisition and intended ownership of the firearms."

According to investigators, Shaw lied on ATF Forms, stating that he was the buyer of firearms and that he was not acquiring the guns on behalf of another person.

"Investigators determined this to be false because Shaw was not purchasing firearms for himself, but rather for other individuals. In 2019, Shaw made unprotected admissions to ATF agents that he purchased and sold approximately 30 to 40 firearms to relatives and other unknown individuals," DOJ said.

“One of the priorities of the Justice Department is to shut down the illegal gun pipeline that feeds firearms into some of our largest and most crime ridden communities,” U.S. Attorney Higdon said in a statement. “William Shaw was running a gun pipeline between here and Washington. But, no more."