Huntsville Man Sentenced To 5 Years In Federal Prison For Firearms Violation

Fort Smith, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Gregg Nicholas, age 55, of Huntsville, was sentenced April 4, 2018, to 60 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Honorable P.K. Holmes, III, Chief United States District Judge, presided over the sentencing hearing in Fort Smith.

According to court records, in April 2017, Huntsville law enforcement responded to a report from a Huntsville business that Nicholas claimed to be a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employee and requested the business to sew on DHS patches on camouflage shirts.  When law enforcement responded to the report, a detective observed Nicholas wearing both a federal game warden badge and a United States Department of Treasury badge. When the detective asked Nicholas about his employment with DHS, Nicholas then claimed he was retired from DHS, was a trained United States Marine, and completed several undercover jobs with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in his career. While speaking with the detective, Nicholas alluded to the fact that he possessed several firearms at his residence. At this point, Nicholas was arrested by local law enforcement for Criminal Impersonation.  The detective then contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for assistance with the investigation. HSI agents conducted a criminal record check and identified that Nicholas had a prior felony conviction. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Nicholas’ residence and discovered fourteen firearms and ammunition inside. Nicholas was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2017 and entered a guilty plea in October 2017.

This case was investigated by Huntsville Police Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Office; Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the United States Postal Inspector. Assistant United States Attorney Candace Taylor prosecuted the case for the United States.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.