BOAZ, KENTUCKY FELON PLEADS TO
FELON FIREARM POSSESSION AND GAMBLING CHARGES
– Had 4 rifles, 2 shotguns and 2 handguns

David L. Huber, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, announced today that BILLY COLEMAN CLAYTON, age 62, of Boaz, Kentucky, pled guilty with being a felon in possession of a firearm, structuring bank proceeds, and running an illegal gambling business. The maximum potential penalties are 20 years imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of up to 3 years.

On or about and between May 2003 and January, 21, 2004, Clayton conducted, financed, managed, supervised, and owned all or part of an illegal gambling business that involved five or more persons that violated the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Witnesses would have testified that Clayton was making up to $1,500 per night from his poker games. During this same time period, Clayton, who was convicted previously in the Northern District of Mississippi of causing a person to travel in interstate commerce in execution of a scheme to defraud, possessed firearms (a Winchester Ranger .12 gauge shotgun, a Marlin, .22 caliber rifle, a Davis Industries, .32 caliber handgun, a Stevens .22 caliber rifle, a Marlin 30-30 rifle, a Winchester 20 gauge shotgun, a Rossi .38 Special handgun, and a Sears .22 caliber rifle) and ammunition in violation of federal law. In addition, Clayton structured bank proceeds for the purpose of evading reporting requirements. Clayton attempted to cash checks totaling $14,000 on two successive days in order to avoid federal reporting requirements. Federal law requires the reporting of amounts of $10,000 or more per day.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Madison Sewell and it was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The plea was entered before Judge Thomas B. Russell, United States District Court, Paducah, Kentucky.

Clayton is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Thomas B. Russell, United States District Court, Paducah, Kentucky on June 26, 2007 at 12:00 p.m.

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