gun shop caught up

[worldwide]

More than 3,300 firearms and 1.6 million rounds of ammunition were seized following the arrest of two gun dealers, officials said.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives personnel were processing thousands of firearms and more than a million rounds of ammunition following Thursday's arrest of two men on charges of selling firearms illegally from Boulevard Sales and Service in Compton, said Los Angeles ATF Special Agent in Charge John A. Torres.

Store employees Stephen P. Virgilio and Carlos Rodriguez Castellanos were charged with one federal count each of sale of ammunition to a felon. They could face up to ten years in prison if convicted.

The ATF seized 3,000 firearms and 1.6 million rounds of ammunition from the Compton store and 390 firearms and 27,000 rounds of ammunition from another store in Oak View, near Ojai, in Ventura County.

"When ATF becomes aware of criminal violations occurring at a federal firearms licensee's business, we will take swift action to prevent firearms and ammunition from ending up in the hands of the wrong people," Torres said. "It is our highest priority to keep our communities safe."

In order to file a claim for the return of a seized firearm, owners should call 1-800-283-4867 and provide their name, address and telephone number. A claim form will be mailed to them from ATF Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The claim form must be returned to ATF within 35 days from the date of the mailing.

"It is our goal to return those firearms belonging to the firearms community as quickly and efficiently as possible," Torres said.

People who have paid a deposit on a weapon currently subject to the 10-day waiting period need to contact the gun store directly for a refund of their deposit.

Previously, ATF officials said the amount of seized weapons and ammunition was much lower.

According to an affidavit filed in the case, during a five-year period, 897 firearms linked to a crime or illegally possessed were traced back to Boulevard Sales & Service.

Of those traced firearms, at least 29 were connected to murder investigations, Torres said.

The warrants stemmed from an undercover investigation into Boulevard Sales' illegal sales of firearms and ammunition to known felons and other "prohibited" buyers, Torres said.

Investigators posing as straw buyers on behalf of such people purchased 14 firearms from Boulevard Sales & Service, officials said. In addition, informants allegedly bought large quantities of ammunition, including three cases of bullets used in AK-47-type rifles.

"According to the affidavit filed in this case, Stephen Virgilio and Carlos Castellanos participated in repeated transfers of firearms through straw buyers to individuals who could not otherwise purchase those firearms," Torres said.

"The laws they are alleged to have violated are designed precisely to keep firearms and ammunition out of the hands of prohibited persons, including persons with prior felony convictions," Torres said.

One of the traced weapons included a gun used in the shooting of a Los Angeles police officer.