PORTLAND — An Auburn man charged with buying guns for other people, including twice at an Auburn gun shop, was acquitted on all charges last week at a federal trial.

Anthony Jones, 35, was facing three counts of false statements during acquisition of a firearm from a licensed firearm dealer.

Each crime is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Jones pleaded not guilty on all counts.

At a two-day bench trial in U.S. District Court ending Friday, Judge Nancy Torresen found Jones not guilty on the three charges. Jones had waived his right to a jury trial.

Torresen’s written judgment simply stated the verdict.

In a superseding indictment handed up by a federal grand jury in July, Jones was accused of buying a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield .40-caliber pistol on May 20, 2020, from a gun dealer in Kittery.

Jones “knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement” during the purchase that was “intended and likely to deceive” the salesperson when he answered, “Yes,” to the question: “Are you the actual buyer of the firearm(s) listed on this form?” according to the indictment.

The form specifically warns that “You are not the actual buyer if you are acquiring the firearm(s) on behalf of another person.”

The indictment went on to say: “In fact, this statement was false because defendant intended to purchase the firearm for and/or on behalf of another person.”

Jones bought a second gun — an FNH model 503 9 mm pistol — on July 22, 2020, from J.T. Reid’s Gun Shop in Auburn, according to the indictment.

He answered, “Yes,” when asked if he was the “actual buyer.”

The indictment said, “In fact, this statement was false” because Jones intended to buy the gun for someone else.

Jones bought a third gun March 30, 2021, a Smith & Wesson, model M&P 9, 9 mm pistol at the same Auburn gun shop, according to the indictment.

Again, according to court documents, Jones answered, “Yes” on the form during purchase indicating he was the actual buyer when he, in fact, he was buying the gun for someone else.

Jones was arrested Sept. 26, 2023 in Massachusetts.