FORT WORTH, Texas — A Keller man has been convicted by a federal jury in a firearm case stemming from an incident at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, officials announced.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, 44-year-old Xavier Lamar Mottley, also known as Xavier Thomas, was found guilty April 22, 2026, of being a felon in possession of a firearm following a three-day trial.
Prosecutors said the case centers on a July 24, 2024, incident at DFW Airport, where Mottley checked a bag under his minor daughter’s name that contained a loaded Sig Sauer pistol.
Evidence presented at trial showed that after being confronted by authorities with the Transportation Security Administration and airport police, Mottley provided conflicting statements about ownership of the firearm and his felony status.
Jurors also heard that Mottley has prior felony convictions, including 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 firearm belonged to his wife and had been left in the bag after a prior trip.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said the case underscores the importance of airport safety.
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock credited coordination among agencies for quickly identifying and securing the firearm.
Mottley is scheduled to be sentenced August 7, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor and faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Transportation Security Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric B. Chen and Matt Capoccia.
