By Aaron Burgin, The Porterville Recorder
FRESNO — Sentence: Suspect faces 10 years in federal prison. Six months to the day after his arrest, a Porterville businessman admitted to a U.S. judge Thursday afternoon that he possessed 45 guns while a felon — an offense that could send him to prison for 10 years.

The admission was part of a plea agreement between federal prosecutors and Talal Ali “Ted” Chammout, 48, who was originally accused of trying to purchase stolen military equipment to send to groups in the Middle East. By pleading guilty to the offense, prosecutor Stan Boone agreed to drop a felony charge that Chammout conspired to purchase military equipment believed to be stolen from the U.S. Military. Also as a term of his plea agreement, Chammout gave up his right to appeal the ruling.

“We didn’t go easy on him by offering this agreement,” Boone said. “It may not sound as sexy as conspiracy, but it should not be taken as a sign of weakness.” Chammout, who appeared in court in a red Fresno County Jail jumpsuit, said “yes” as Judge Oliver Wanger asked him if he committed the following acts:

Between June 2004 and December 2006, Chammout knowingly possessed weapons and equipment he believed to be stolen government property. On Dec. 10, 2004, Chammout purchased two night vision goggles, one small arms protective insert, two chemical suits, two ballistic vests, one set of lower torso fragmentation armor and four pairs of hot weather combat boots. Two years later on Dec. 6, 2006, Chammout purchased five Beretta pistols from an undercover FBI agent for $1,000. Finally, he owned 40 weapons, including three AK-47 assault rifles, a Tec-9 pistol and a Ruger Mini-14 ranch rifle, the five named guns being of the semi-automatic variety.

A FBI-led task force discovered these weapons in a storage shed when they raided his business a day after he purchased the pistols. Chammout was not supposed to possess any weapons after a June 1995 conviction of a felony count of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury.

The FBI arrested Chammout Dec. 7, culminating a two-year investigation in which he allegedly attempted to purchase military equipment he wanted to send to groups in Syria, Jordan and Iraq. His family’s request to put up $1 million in property bonds for his bail were twice denied by U.S. Court judges. Chammout, the former owner of Truckers Oil Co., a Porterville petroleum distributorship, now awaits an Aug. 27 sentencing hearing.

His sentence will be determined by a combination of factors, including federal sentencing guidelines, his past criminal history, the number of weapons he possessed and any other characteristics of the crime. In addition to the maximum 10-year sentence, Chammout also faces a maximum three-year supervised release and could return to prison if he violates the terms of his release.

Chammout’s attorney Roger Nuttall said he believes his client would receive about a five-year sentence if Judge Oliver Wanger considered the federal sentencing guidelines. Boone, however, said he plans to request Wanger consider several enhancements that could bring the sentence closer to the maximum, a request Nuttall called “excessive.” “[Boone’s] got a definite agenda ... He (Chammout) purchased and possessed weapons when he was a felon, it is what it is,” Nuttall said. “Enough is enough, already. We will be ready to fight any type of attempt to do such a thing.”

Nuttall continued to deny allegations that Chammout had ties to terrorists groups. “There is no viable terrorist tone to it,” Nuttall said.

Nuttall and Chammout’s older brother Nasser — also present Thursday — said Talal, a Lebanese national who immigrated to the U.S. with a third-grade education, wants to piece his life back together after his release. They admit, however, it will be difficult. “The facts are what they are, and Talal accepted responsibility for what occurred, and now he wants to get on with his life,” Nuttall said. “But imagine being 50 years old and having to start over, how hard would it be. Luckily for him, he has good family support. “It will be a hard thing but I think he can do it.”

Contact Aaron Burgin at 784-5000, Ext. 1046, or aburgin@portervillerecorder.com.