556 guns seized, 11 face charges
2-year investigation focused on illegal sales at flea markets
Thursday, February 02, 2006
VAL WALTON
News staff writer
A two-year federal undercover investigation into illegal gun sales at flea markets across Alabama ended with 11 people facing criminal charges and agents seizing 556 guns, officials said Wednesday.

The operation targeted people who routinely sold guns from booths or vehicles on flea market grounds throughout north Alabama without a federal firearms license, said U.S. Attorney Alice Martin.

Nine of the 11 charged are Alabama residents. One is from Georgia and one is from Tennessee. A grand jury returned an indictment against seven of the defendants Wednesday. Prosecutors filed charges against four more in documents known as a criminal information.

Martin said the suspects repeatedly sold guns to people who told them they were convicted felons or traveled from other states to buy a gun, both prohibited by federal law.

She said the investigation, known as Operation Flea Collar, focused on a gun collector's show in Birmingham; the Trade Day Flea Market in DeKalb County; and the Taco Bet Trade Day in Jackson County.

Undercover agents were able to buy 166 guns, including handguns, shotguns and a .22-caliber mini-revolver in a wallet holster. At the investigation's conclusion when search warrants were executed on the indicted suspects, officers confiscated 556 guns ranging from small-caliber handguns to a high-capacity shotgun.

Martin said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives determined that guns the suspects previously bought were recovered at crime scenes ranging from Mobile to Los Angeles.

One gun was used in the attempted slaying of a Chicago police officer and another in a murder-for-hire scheme in New York City, Martin said.

"We know Alabama is considered a supply state of crime guns, so let me be clear - law enforcement is focused not only on criminals who are buying guns, but also on suppliers who are illegally engaging in gun sales," Martin said in a statement.

E-mail: [email protected]

In Before the First Convience Store reference.


Someone is in Big trouble.

Not the sharpest knives in the drawer, your buying your firearms from there, are they.

Mike

Quoted: 556 guns seized, 11 face charges 2-year investigation focused on illegal sales at flea markets Thursday, February 02, 2006 VAL WALTON News staff writer A two-year federal undercover investigation into illegal gun sales at flea markets across Alabama ended with 11 people facing criminal charges and agents seizing 556 guns, officials said Wednesday. The operation targeted people who routinely sold guns from booths or vehicles on flea market grounds throughout north Alabama without a federal firearms license, said U.S. Attorney Alice Martin. Nine of the 11 charged are Alabama residents. One is from Georgia and one is from Tennessee. A grand jury returned an indictment against seven of the defendants Wednesday. Prosecutors filed charges against four more in documents known as a criminal information. Martin said the suspects repeatedly sold guns to people who told them they were convicted felons or traveled from other states to buy a gun, both prohibited by federal law. She said the investigation, known as Operation Flea Collar, focused on a gun collector's show in Birmingham; the Trade Day Flea Market in DeKalb County; and the Taco Bet Trade Day in Jackson County. Undercover agents were able to buy 166 guns, including handguns, shotguns and a .22-caliber mini-revolver in a wallet holster. At the investigation's conclusion when search warrants were executed on the indicted suspects, officers confiscated 556 guns ranging from small-caliber handguns to a high-capacity shotgun. Martin said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives determined that guns the suspects previously bought were recovered at crime scenes ranging from Mobile to Los Angeles. One gun was used in the attempted slaying of a Chicago police officer and another in a murder-for-hire scheme in New York City, Martin said. "We know Alabama is considered a supply state of crime guns, so let me be clear - law enforcement is focused not only on criminals who are buying guns, but also on suppliers who are illegally engaging in gun sales," Martin said in a statement. E-mail: [email protected]

So a revolver isn't a handgun

Would it have made them feel better if the guns used in murder attempts were aquired legally?

Quoted: Quoted: 556 guns seized, 11 face charges 2-year investigation focused on illegal sales at flea markets Thursday, February 02, 2006 VAL WALTON News staff writer A two-year federal undercover investigation into illegal gun sales at flea markets across Alabama ended with 11 people facing criminal charges and agents seizing 556 guns, officials said Wednesday. The operation targeted people who routinely sold guns from booths or vehicles on flea market grounds throughout north Alabama without a federal firearms license, said U.S. Attorney Alice Martin. Nine of the 11 charged are Alabama residents. One is from Georgia and one is from Tennessee. A grand jury returned an indictment against seven of the defendants Wednesday. Prosecutors filed charges against four more in documents known as a criminal information. Martin said the suspects repeatedly sold guns to people who told them they were convicted felons or traveled from other states to buy a gun, both prohibited by federal law. She said the investigation, known as Operation Flea Collar, focused on a gun collector's show in Birmingham; the Trade Day Flea Market in DeKalb County; and the Taco Bet Trade Day in Jackson County. Undercover agents were able to buy 166 guns, including handguns, shotguns and a .22-caliber mini-revolver in a wallet holster. At the investigation's conclusion when search warrants were executed on the indicted suspects, officers confiscated 556 guns ranging from small-caliber handguns to a high-capacity shotgun. Martin said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives determined that guns the suspects previously bought were recovered at crime scenes ranging from Mobile to Los Angeles. One gun was used in the attempted slaying of a Chicago police officer and another in a murder-for-hire scheme in New York City, Martin said. "We know Alabama is considered a supply state of crime guns, so let me be clear - law enforcement is focused not only on criminals who are buying guns, but also on suppliers who are illegally engaging in gun sales," Martin said in a statement. E-mail: [email protected] So a revolver isn't a handgun

If it's capable of being fired while still in the holster, it's considered an AOW.

Quoted: Quoted: 556 guns seized, 11 face charges 2-year investigation focused on illegal sales at flea markets Thursday, February 02, 2006 VAL WALTON News staff writer A two-year federal undercover investigation into illegal gun sales at flea markets across Alabama ended with 11 people facing criminal charges and agents seizing 556 guns, officials said Wednesday. The operation targeted people who routinely sold guns from booths or vehicles on flea market grounds throughout north Alabama without a federal firearms license, said U.S. Attorney Alice Martin. Nine of the 11 charged are Alabama residents. One is from Georgia and one is from Tennessee. A grand jury returned an indictment against seven of the defendants Wednesday. Prosecutors filed charges against four more in documents known as a criminal information. Martin said the suspects repeatedly sold guns to people who told them they were convicted felons or traveled from other states to buy a gun, both prohibited by federal law. She said the investigation, known as Operation Flea Collar, focused on a gun collector's show in Birmingham; the Trade Day Flea Market in DeKalb County; and the Taco Bet Trade Day in Jackson County. Undercover agents were able to buy 166 guns, including handguns, shotguns and a .22-caliber mini-revolver in a wallet holster. At the investigation's conclusion when search warrants were executed on the indicted suspects, officers confiscated 556 guns ranging from small-caliber handguns to a high-capacity shotgun. Martin said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives determined that guns the suspects previously bought were recovered at crime scenes ranging from Mobile to Los Angeles. One gun was used in the attempted slaying of a Chicago police officer and another in a murder-for-hire scheme in New York City, Martin said. "We know Alabama is considered a supply state of crime guns, so let me be clear - law enforcement is focused not only on criminals who are buying guns, but also on suppliers who are illegally engaging in gun sales," Martin said in a statement. E-mail: [email protected] So a revolver isn't a handgun

Not that one.  It's an AOW.

Know your customer!

Unless they bought all 166 guns from like 3 or 4 people I don't see what the crime is.  Except for any NFA items....

Isn't Alabama a private party transfer state?

556 guns and 5.56. Coincidence, I think not

Quoted: 556 guns and 5.56. Coincidence, I think not

That is what I thought.  I thought "WTF, someone only took 5.56 guns."

Quoted: Unless they bought all 166 guns from like 3 or 4 people I don't see what the crime is.  Except for any NFA items.... Isn't Alabama a private party transfer state?

This part makes it a crime "Martin said the suspects repeatedly sold guns to people who told them they were convicted felons or traveled from other states to buy a gun, both prohibited by federal law. "