A former Gastonia police officer has been formally charged and made her initial court appearance after allegedly engaging in a straw purchase of a firearm. Xana Dayanae Dove, a 28-year-old from Charlotte, appeared in federal court in Charlotte following an indictment that was unsealed, accusing her of making false statements to acquire a gun. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina, Dove was released on bond after her appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler.
The incident occurred on May 25, 2023, at Shooters Express in Belmont, North Carolina, where Dove is accused of falsely filling out ATF’s Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473. The indictment claims that Dove intentionally made a false statement claiming to be the true buyer of a Springfield Hellcat Pro, 9mm pistol, knowing well this to be a false claim. Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney, highlighted that such incidents undermine the integrity of firearms transactions and the efforts to prevent weapons from unlawfully hitting the streets.
Dove is now facing substantial charges, including making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, and if convicted, could see up to 15 years in prison. The official statement from the Justice Department emphasizes that these charges are only allegations and that Dove will remain innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The investigation leading to these charges was a collaborative effort involving the FBI and ATF, with commendations also extended to Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Community Supervision, and the Gastonia Police Department.
The ATF and the FBI, both with a vested interest in maintaining the law when it comes to firearms, are working in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's Office to rigorously pursue cases like these. "We are committed to vigorously enforcing federal laws designed to prevent the illegal purchase and distribution of firearms," said James C. Barnacle, Jr., Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina.
