A former Dallas Police Department sergeant was sentenced on April 22 to 28 months in federal prison for possessing and selling stolen service weapons, according to an announcement by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
The sentencing of Thomas Fry, age 53, addresses concerns about public trust in law enforcement. Prosecutors said that Fry admitted to taking three firearms owned by the Dallas Police Department and selling them to an Oklahoma pawn shop in June and July of 2022 while he was still serving as a sergeant.
“This police officer violated his oath and the public’s trust when he chose to commit a crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Our law enforcement partners work day and night to keep us safe and enforce the law, and our trust and faith in them will not waiver. We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to root out the few bad apples among their ranks.”
Brian Garner, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division, said: “This case strikes at the core of public trust. The very individuals entrusted to safeguard our communities must be held to the highest standard. When that trust is violated through the theft and illegal sale of firearms, it endangers the public and undermines the integrity of law enforcement. This 28-month federal sentence sends a clear message: no one is above the law, and those who abuse their authority will be held accountable. ATF remains committed to working alongside our partners to protect our communities and prevent illegal firearms trafficking.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives conducted this investigation along with assistance from the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marty Basu prosecuted Fry’s case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas promotes community trust through outreach programs according to its official website. The office operates from facilities at multiple locations including Dallas’ Earle Cabell Federal Building as well as branch offices in Fort Worth, Lubbock, Amarillo, and Abilene according to its official website. As part of the U.S. Department of Justice according to its official website, it employs around 100 assistant attorneys plus support staff according to its official website.
The office prosecutes federal crimes such as this case involving stolen firearms while also managing civil litigation on behalf of government agencies according to its official website. Its jurisdiction covers about eight million residents across a territory spanning roughly 96,000 square miles in northern Texas according to its official website.
