James Lane Winslett, a 66-year-old resident of Corning, California, has been sentenced to three years in prison. U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta delivered the sentence for Winslett's involvement in unlawfully dealing and manufacturing firearms without a license, selling a firearm to a convicted felon, and possessing an unregistered firearm. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that Winslett engaged in firearms trafficking, selling hundreds of firearms and silencers without proper licensing. He purchased parts online and from licensed dealers, then used home equipment to manufacture firearms privately before selling them. In 2020, he sold an AR-15 style firearm to a customer who was prohibited from owning guns due to a prior felony conviction.
Winslett also misrepresented silencers as "fuel filters" or "solvent traps." In 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a parcel addressed to Winslett containing 25 silencers mislabeled as "car fuel filters." Subsequent tests by the ATF confirmed these were indeed silencers. A search of Winslett’s residence uncovered 36 silencers, over 30 firearms, additional parts, ammunition, and tools used for manufacturing firearms.
Winslett lacked the necessary license for dealing in firearms and failed to register any of his silencers with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by federal law.
The case resulted from investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily G. Sauvageau and Justin Lee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which seeks collaboration between law enforcement at all levels with communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence while enhancing neighborhood safety. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through PSN's core principles: fostering community trust and legitimacy; supporting violence prevention organizations; setting strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring outcomes.