United States v. Bobby Lee Williams

BRIGHT, Circuit Judge.

A jury convicted Bobby Lee Williams on two counts of making false statements to a licensed firearms dealer in connection with the purchase of two firearms, violations of 18 U.S.C. § 922(a) (6). Williams appeals, contending that he was deprived of a fair trial because the prosecutor, through his questions and argument to the jury, revealed that a defense witness had invoked the Fifth Amendment when questioned before a grand jury about the firearms transaction. We reverse.

On May 25, 1971, appellant purchased two rifles from the Kroeger Family Center, a licensed firearms…