FORT WORTH, Texas — A federal jury in Fort Worth has convicted a 44-year-old Keller man of a firearm crime at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, according to the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
Following a three-day trial, Xavier Lamar Mottley, also known as Xavier Thomas, was found guilty on April 22, 2026, of being a felon in possession of a firearm. “DFW is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world, and as the North Texas area continues to grow, it is important that we remain vigilant to keep the millions of people who travel through our airports annually safe,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Congratulations to the trial team and the agents who worked tirelessly for the defendant to be held accountable.”
The conviction stems from an incident on July 24, 2024, when Mottley checked in a bag under his minor daughter’s name containing an unsecured and loaded Sig Sauer pistol at DFW Airport. According to evidence presented at trial, Mottley initially lied about his felony status and ownership of the gun when confronted by authorities from the Transportation Security Administration and DFW Airport Department of Public Safety.
The jury also heard that Mottley had two prior felony convictions: a federal conviction for access device fraud and a state conviction for theft of property valued over $1,500. Mottley and his wife testified that the gun belonged to his wife and that she had forgotten to remove it from the backpack after a trip the previous year.
Mottley is scheduled for sentencing on August 7, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, who presided over the trial. He faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and DFW Airport Department of Public Safety, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Transportation Security Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric B. Chen and Matt Capoccia prosecuted the case.