A man whose criminal history makes it illegal for him to buy a firearm has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly providing false information when he tried to buy a gun from a Texarkana pawn shop and gun dealer.
Cedric Rondell Howard, 45, appeared on a one-count indictment Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven. Texarkana attorney Cory Floyd was appointed to represent Howard and entered a plea of not guilty on Howard’s behalf to a charge of filing a false statement in attempted acquisition of a firearm.
Howard allegedly lied about his criminal past when filling out paperwork Oct. 9 at Cash America Pawn in Texarkana, Texas. The business is a licensed firearms dealer.
According to Howard’s indictment, his prior convictions include misdemeanor assault causes bodily injury, family violence, in Gregg County, Texas, in July 2008 and of the felony offense of burglary of a habitation in Rusk County, Texas, in April 1993. Individuals with misdemeanor convictions for domestic abuse or convictions for any type of felony are prohibited from purchasing guns.
Howard was released Monday on a $10,000 unsecured appearance bond. He is scheduled for trial May 28 before U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas.
If convicted, Howard faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Hornok is representing the government.
