Posted on 06/30/2014 2:28:37 PM PDT by holymoly
Federal agents recently arrested 10 men on charges that they illegally sold firearms from Sadie’s Flea Market, just south of Dothan.
George L. Beck Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, confirmed federal agents recently arrested 10 people on various illegal firearms charges in connection to an investigation launched by the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Beck said the investigation started after ATF agents received information that guns were being trafficked and sold at Sadie’s Flea Market. Beck said the investigation showed the market had no criminal involvement.
“They began their investigation, and they used undercover witnesses to make purchases,” Beck said.
Beck confirmed some of the charges filed included the sale of firearms without a license, the sale of firearms to a convicted felon and the sale of a firearm by a convicted felon to another convicted felon.
Beck said federal agents seized more than 200 firearms, including rifles, shotguns and pistols, as part of the investigation. He also said agents seized more than 500 rounds of ammunition.
Federal court records show some of the offenses date back to October 2013 and others occurred as recently as March.
“We’re not targeting guns or people’s right to bear arms, but we’re trying to protect it,” Beck said. “It’s so that law-abiding citizens can own guns.”
Beck said there are several reasons why investigations into the illegal sale of firearms are important.
“It’s important because we have a Second Amendment that guarantees everybody the right to bear arms, but Congress has imposed certain rules that need to be followed in order to protect our Second Amendment right to bear arms,” Beck said. “One of those rules is a person is prohibited from knowingly selling a gun to a felon. That rule is important to protect the citizens because we don’t want guns to get into the hands of those who have committed serious crimes.”
Beck said another rule set by Congress included if someone chose to deal in firearms, or sell firearms for profit, then they’re required to be licensed.
“Don’t sell a gun to a known felon, and second don’t engage in the business of selling guns unless you’re a registered dealer,” Beck said. “Undercover agents found both of those rules to have been violated and that’s what brought these charges.”
But Beck also said the “gun act also prohibits someone who is not a dealer from selling a gun to someone who is from out of state.”
“At least one of the defendants was also a convicted felon, which means he should not even have possessed a firearm,” Beck said.
Beck said the prosecution of the violation of federal firearms laws was part of Project Safe Neighborhood Task Force.
“It’s a combination of city, county, state and federal law enforcement dedicated to go after the most violent criminal,” Beck said. “The felon in possession laws is part of that effort.”
The following was released by the U.S. Attorney Office in regard to the 10 people arrested and their charges:
» Richard Allen Cohen, 65, of Graceville, Florida, charged with sale of a firearm to a convicted felon
» Robert Arthur Chudzik III, 27, of Headland, charged with sale of a firearm to a convicted felon
» William Dean, 84, of Whigham, Georgia, charged with sale of a firearm to a convicted felon
» Charles T. Grimes, 56, of Opp, charged with sale of a firearm to a convicted felon, dealing firearms without a license, conspiracy and aiding and abetting
» Thomas P. Knowles, 47, of Chancellor, charged with sale of a firearm to a convicted felon, conspiracy and aiding and abetting
» Marvin T. Jones, 70, of Dothan, charged with the sale of a firearm to a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and dealing in firearms without a license
» David R. Loftin, 64, of LaGrange, Georgia, charged with the sale of a firearm to a convicted felon and dealing in firearms without a license
» Ronald D. Sloan, 64, of Cottondale, Florida, charged with the sale of a firearm to a convicted felon
» Charles P. Sly, 75, of Slocomb, charged with the sale of a firearm to a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and dealing in firearms without a license
» Brent E. Underwood, 60, of Coffee Springs, charged with the sale of a firearm to a convicted felon.
Beck confirmed some of the charges filed included the sale of firearms without a license
Since when does federal law (Beck us a US Attorney) require a license to sell a firearm?
and second don’t engage in the business of selling guns unless you’re a registered dealer
And there's the whole point of this "investigation". Stop the private sale of firearms, by inducing the fear that you could, inadvertently, sell a firearm to a paid ATF "undercover witness", who also happens to be a convicted felon.
??
Good to know that the feds are targeting rural flea markets instead of the fruits of islam and MS 13 types that are flying across our border.
Hope this crap comes back to bite them hard. Karma style.
YEAH, RIGHT
The medical costs of housing them fellas will far outweigh any message sent. Ya see the age of some of them?
SOOO, when are these same feds going to go into Chicago or DC to clamp down on firearms sales to known felons?
Hmmmm?
Maybe I'm misreading this -- but did ATF actually hire convicted felons to make purchases? (Otherwise, why would the sale be illegal????)
The undercover agents must have told the sellers that they had a record or that they were from out of state.
You’d have to be a fool to sell to anyone who tells you that, or shows you an out of state ID.
The key word is “knowingly”...
“A person may sell a firearm to an unlicensed resident of his State, if he does not know or have reasonable cause to believe the person is prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms under Federal law. A person may loan or rent a firearm to a resident of any State for temporary use for lawful sporting purposes, if he does not know or have reasonable cause to believe the person is prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms under Federal law. A person may sell or transfer a firearm to a licensee in any State. However, a firearm other than a curio or relic may not be transferred interstate to a licensed collector.”
From the ATF website.
They won’t because they would end up arresting a large part of the Chicago Police Dept. and city employees.
The State of residence is the State in which an individual is present; the individual also must have an intention of making a home in that State. A member of the Armed Forces on active duty is a resident of the State in which his or her permanent duty station is located. If a member of the Armed Forces maintains a home in one State and the member’s permanent duty station is in a nearby State to which he or she commutes each day, then the member has two States of residence and may purchase a firearm in either the State where the duty station is located or the State where the home is maintained. An alien who is legally in the United States is considered to be a resident of a State only if the alien is residing in that State and has resided in that State continuously for a period of at least 90 days prior to the date of sale of the firearm. See also Item 5, “Sales to Aliens in the United States,” in the General Information section of this publication.
[18 U.S.C. 921(b), 922(a) (3), and 922(b)(3), 27 CFR 478.11]
Sale to a convicted Felon —
Was that Felon also arrested?
Yup!
Its the criminals vs. the productive citizens, as always.
Unfortunately, the criminals have taken over the government.
If these guys are such badass criminals, why are they walking around free in the first place?
Wow, and 500rds of ammunition as in one .22 brick. I thought you could do private gun sales.
the gun act also prohibits someone who is not a dealer from selling a gun to someone who is from out of state27 CFR 478.29
It's an ATF regulation.
No way would they endanger their informants.
Well he was tring to get rid of it.
ATF, IRS, BLM, and “Homeland Security” are rogue arms of the Obama Administration which need to be dissolved.
This is the Obamabastard ruling once again by phone, pen and government
agencies.
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