A former Gastonia police officer is headed to federal prison after admitting she bought a handgun for someone else and lied about it on the paperwork. Xana Dayanae Dove, 28, was sentenced in Charlotte on Tuesday to 15 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and must forfeit the Springfield Hellcat Pro 9mm at the center of the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced the sentence in a press release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In that announcement, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said, “No one is above the law.” The office credited the FBI and the ATF with leading the investigation and noted that Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington handled the prosecution. The outcome was also shared on the U.S. Attorney’s official X account.
Prosecutors' account of the purchase
According to prosecutors, Dove bought the Springfield Hellcat Pro on May 25, 2023, at Shooters Express in Belmont and marked herself as the actual buyer on ATF Form 4473, even though she was not, as reported by WBTV. The indictment alleges she later handed the gun over to another person, whose identity prosecutors did not disclose. That allegedly false statement on the federal firearms transaction form formed the basis of the straw purchase charge.
Background: earlier arrests and department separation
Dove’s federal case followed earlier trouble on the local level. In 2023, she was arrested on allegations she improperly accessed police computers and later pleaded guilty to related state charges. Local reporting indicates she was separated from the Gastonia Police Department in November 2023 while those investigations were underway.
Sentence details and next steps
At sentencing, the court ordered that Dove forfeit the Springfield Hellcat Pro and directed that she be placed in the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons once a facility is designated, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors again credited the FBI and ATF for their work on the case. Dove will begin serving her federal term once the Bureau of Prisons decides where she will be housed and will remain on supervised release for two years after she leaves custody.
Why prosecutors prioritize straw purchases
Federal authorities say straw purchases are a well-worn path for funneling guns into illegal markets, which is why these cases tend to land on federal radar. The ATF’s National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment reports that providing false information to licensed gun dealers and engaging in straw purchasing are among the more frequent violations seen in trafficking investigations. Prosecutors argue that holding middlemen accountable is one way to disrupt the supply of firearms that can later end up in violent crime.
Legal note
Making a false statement on ATF Form 4473 violates 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6) and is a federal felony that can carry a prison term of up to 10 years, according to a Congressional Research Service report. Actual sentences vary, depending on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and a defendant’s criminal history.
Officials say the case highlights ongoing federal efforts to crack down on unlawful gun transfers and to hold public servants accountable when they break the laws they swore to uphold.
