Former top county official faces more gun charges. Feds say Willi bought another weapon while free on bond
Federal agents arrested Monroe County's former top unelected official Monday, saying he violated conditions of his pretrial release by allegedly buying a gun.
Thomas Willi, county administrator from 2004 to 2007, and his business partner, Jarvis Nelson Osorio, were arrested in July, accused of knowingly selling guns to convicted felons. The two men own the Outbreak Ordnance Gun Shop on County Road on Big Pine Key.
The post office on Big Pine received a firearm on Sept. 17 that Willi ordered, federal authorities say. It's not clear when he ordered the gun, but one of his attorneys, Michael T. Davis, said it was some time before federal agents raided Outbreak Ordnance and arrested Willi and Osorio, who was also arrested Monday.
"The transaction was made before any charges were filed, and the transaction was approved" by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, Davis said Thursday. "Mr. Willi had no intention of possessing the item. An employee was going to pick it up."
Willi and Osorio pleaded not guilty on July 20 and were freed after paying 10 percent of their separate $50,000 bonds. One of the conditions of release was neither man could possess a firearm.
Each man faces the following charges: One count of conspiracy to commit firearms violations; two counts of selling firearms to a convicted felon; one count of illegally selling guns as a licensed dealer; and two counts of failure of a licensed dealer to keep proper records.
Combined, the charges could result in each man receiving a 25-year federal prison sentence.
A jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 11. Federal Judge Lurana Snow is scheduled to hold a hearing on Monday's arrest in the Key West federal courthouse Friday at 2 p.m. As of press time, both men are in custody.
The grand jury indictment that led to agents raiding Outbreak Ordnance states Willi and Osorio had a person with no felony record fill out required federal background forms stating he or she was the one buying the weapons. Then, Willi and Osorio would actually sell the guns to the intended buyer, a man with a felony criminal record. Felons cannot legally buy guns.
Prosecutors also allege Willis and Osorio delivered pistols to buyers before the mandatory three-day waiting period ended. The transactions happened between September 2014 and February 2015, according to the indictment.
Agents with the ATF and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration took part in the July raid at Outbreak Ordnance.
This story was originally published October 2, 2015 at 10:39 AM with the headline "Former top county official faces more gun charges. Feds say Willi bought another weapon while free on bond."