LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A former Jeffersonville police officer will spend more than a year in federal prison after lying to buy firearms for personal use.

Charlestown resident Todd Wilson, 52, worked as an evidence custodian at the Jeffersonville Police Department from 2020-21. According to court documents, he misrepresented what the firearms would be used for and forged signatures on department letterhead to illegally buy nine guns from a federally licensed firearm dealer. 

Under regulations from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, law enforcement officers may purchase guns without completing ATF Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record), which is typically required for purchases from federal firearms licensees. Wilson abused his power as a sworn officer to make the purchases without completing the form, the Department of Justice said in a news release Monday. 

In order to skip completion of the Firearms Transaction Record, officers must submit a certification on agency letterhead, signed by an authorized official, affirming the firearm will be used for official police duties and that the officer has no convictions for misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence.

Firearms dealers are required to retain these certifications in their permanent records.

Despite claiming the guns were for official police duties, Wilson gifted two Glock 48 9mm pistols and a Glock 43x 9mm pistol to two individuals and sold a fourth firearm to another individual for $400, the DOJ said. 

The serial numbers on the firearms were traced and showed the Jeffersonville Police Department purchased the guns, and they were never transferred.  

"This offense wasn't a momentary lapse, but a grave betrayal by someone sworn to uphold the truth," U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler for the Southern District of Indiana said in the release. 

"Lying to obtain a firearm is a serious crime, and wearing a badge does not place anyone above the law," FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O'Malley said. 

Wilson pleaded guilty to making false statements during the firearms purchases and was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by a year of supervised release.

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