A 74-year-old was sentenced to spend one year in federal prison after pleading guilty to selling firearms without a license at a DeLand flea market earlier this year.
Charles Edward Palmatier was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron on Friday, December 2, for dealing in firearms without a license. Palmatier pled guilty on September 7, 2022.
According to court records, in July 2021, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents met with Palmatier and explained that, if he wanted to continue to sell firearms, he would have to apply for a Federal Firearms License.
After that meeting, Palmatier continued to sell firearms at the Volusia Flea Market in DeLand.
The Volusia Bureau of Investigation and ATF began investigating Palmatier and conducted multiple, controlled purchases of firearms between February 2, 2022 and June 8, 2022 from Palmatier at the Volusia Flea Market.
At least two of the firearms purchased from Palmatier were subsequently linked to two separate crimes, according to authorities.
During the investigation, Palmatier divulged that he would profit approximately $50 to $75 from each firearm that he sold.