Auxvasse man pleads guilty in firearms case

A Kingdom City restaurant owner pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to illegally possessing 21 firearms and three firearm silencers.

Billy Bush Owen, 54, of Auxvasse, pleaded guilty to the charge contained in a Feb. 10, 2016, federal indictment.

Owen is the owner of Panhead Billy's BBQ in Kingdom City. By pleading guilty, Owen admitted he was in possession of 21 firearms Dec. 9, 2015, including handguns, rifles and shotguns, as well as three silencers. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to possess any firearms (including silencers) or ammunition.

Owen has prior felony convictions for transporting a controlled substance and possession of a dangerous weapon by an addict.

Owen was being investigated by Mustang Task Force when officers executed a search warrant at this residence Dec. 9, 2015. Officers found 21 firearms, three silencers and 9,337 rounds of ammunition in the residence. Three of the firearms and 3,610 rounds of ammunition were in the bedroom, and the remaining firearms and the suppressors were in a safe in the garage. Officers also seized $35,109, digital scales, a drug ledger and marijuana from the residence.

Under federal statutes, Owen is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a pre-sentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.