A Roanoke resident, Julius Frederick Muse, III, 19, pleaded guilty last week to several federal drug and firearm charges. The charges include four counts of selling a firearm to another person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the person was a convicted felon, two counts of distributing fentanyl, one count of aiding and abetting a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer, and one count of knowingly possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
As part of his plea agreement, both the government and Muse have agreed to recommend a sentencing range between 70 and 108 months. The final decision on sentencing will be made by the Court.
Court documents state that in December 2022, Muse provided cash and marijuana to another individual to purchase an AR-style pistol for him. The individual made a false statement on ATF Form 4473 as part of this transaction.
Later in December 2022, Muse sold four pressed fentanyl pills and two firearms to a confidential informant. Eight days later, he sold the same informant 27 more pressed fentanyl pills along with a Polymer 80 privately-made firearm—referred to as a “ghost gun”—which Muse described as “untraceable.” Subsequently, Muse sold four additional firearms, including another AR-pattern pistol, to the informant. At the time of these transactions, he knew or had reason to believe that the informant was legally prohibited from possessing firearms due to felony convictions.
In March 2023, federal agents searched Muse’s apartment and found various items including a 9mm Hi-Point pistol with its serial number removed.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced the plea alongside James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF led the investigation with support from Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee S. Brett is prosecuting the case.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration among law enforcement agencies and community groups. In May 2021, PSN implemented new strategies focused on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing targeted enforcement efforts, and evaluating outcomes.
