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News -- April 19, 2022: United States Justice Department announced in a press release yesterday the sentencing of an Asheville man to over six years in prison. After obtaining a firearm through a straw buyer, an Asheville man was sentenced to more than six years in prison for illegal gun possession. Travis Shaqwann Fair, 32, of Asheville, was sentenced today to 80
months in prison and three years of supervised release for illegally possessing a firearm, according to Dena J. King, United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Kourtney Nichelle Shivers, 29, of Asheville, Fair's girlfriend and co-defendant, was also sentenced to a year of probation for straw purchasing Fair's pistol.
“Convicted felons who try to circumvent our gun laws and straw buyers who knowingly put guns in the hands of prohibited persons will be subject to federal prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Gun violence is a grave threat to our communities and we will hold accountable everyone involved in illegal firearm purchasing schemes.”
“Illegal firearm possession is a serious threat to public safety,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Mein. “Removing firearms from the hands of dangerous and prohibited individuals, while also focusing on those who provide them with their firearms, will continue to be a top priority for ATF as we focus our efforts on creating safer communities.”
“The Asheville Police Department supports a citizen’s right to legally purchase and own a firearm,” said Chief Zack. “However, we fully intend to enforce existing gun laws and keep firearms out of the hands of felons and criminals. Stopping gun violence is a top priority of our department and partnering with other law enforcement agencies amplifies our efforts to keep our communities safe.”
According to court records and procedures, on June 10, 2019, Fair went to an Asheville licensed weapons dealer and spoke with a store clerk about obtaining a "cheap" firearm. The store employee showed Fair several firearms, including a 9mm pistol, and Fair quickly left the store without making a purchase. According to court filings, Fair's girlfriend, Shivers, entered the same store a short time later and purchased the same pistol Fair had previously examined. Shivers falsely declared on the requisite documents during the transaction that she was the actual buyer of the pistol, when in fact she was a straw purchaser who purchased the handgun at Fair's request and for his use. According to court papers, Fair provided Shivers with the funds to purchase the pistol, which Shivers agreed to do despite the fact that Fair had past convictions and was forbidden from carrying a firearm. Shivers later gave the weapon to Fair.
Shivers had already pled guilty to making a false statement while purchasing a handgun. Fair pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a handgun. Fair is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons whenever a federal institution is designated.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case
Wnctimes by Marjorie Farrington
