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Seven indicted on gun charges from flea market sales
By BETSY TAYLOR/Associated Press Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Visitors flock to the sprawling Rutledge Flea Market in northeast Missouri once a month from March to November to buy everything from antiques to children's toys to live animals.
On Wednesday, seven men were indicted on federal criminal charges in St. Louis, primarily for dealing firearms without a license or failing to record firearms sales at the popular flea market.
The indictments came from a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives undercover operation out of the Rutledge Flea Market. Federal investigators then executed search warrants at multiple locations in eastern Missouri and southern Iowa, seizing more than 1,000 weapons.
“The seizures in this case are truly remarkable,” said U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway, standing next to a table holding revolvers, pistols and shotguns.
“These guns will be off the streets, and I think that's what's truly important in this case.”
Hanaway said if unlicensed dealers sell guns and don't record buyer information, it hampers the ability to trace weapons used in violent crimes.
The flea market's new manager and one of its new owners, Bob Sands, said the market started in 1948 as a dog and gun auction with dogs, 30 guns and 30 people.”
He said the flea market, located on more than 90 acres in Knox County outside of Rutledge, will operate within the law. But, he questioned if authorities may be making an example of some of those indicted.
“This is a bunch of old guys down here in the country. They like their dogs, and they like their guns, and they're not going to hurt anyone,” he said.
Federal authorities said they weren't trying to prevent the lawful sale of firearms, but that people dealing in firearms need to be licensed if they do it as their livelihood or for profit. They said in one instance more than 600 weapons were seized, in another more than 450. They said if weapons sales were not recorded, the weapons could not later be traced if they were used illegally.
The Missouri men indicted for dealing without a federal firearms license are Ronald Harvey of New London, 64; Vaughn Fogle of Memphis, 73; Daniel Brashers of Ferguson, 64; James Milburn of Powersville, 61; and Larry McCracken of Ewing, 67. The Iowa man is Donald Webb of Creston, 61.
Another Iowa man, Ivan Lemley, 64, of West Point, was a licensed firearms dealer but is charged with selling two firearms without noting the name, age and residence of the person buying them.
Three of the men face additional firearms-related charges.
On Wednesday, seven men were indicted on federal criminal charges in St. Louis, primarily for dealing firearms without a license or failing to record firearms sales at the popular flea market.
The indictments came from a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives undercover operation out of the Rutledge Flea Market. Federal investigators then executed search warrants at multiple locations in eastern Missouri and southern Iowa, seizing more than 1,000 weapons.
“The seizures in this case are truly remarkable,” said U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway, standing next to a table holding revolvers, pistols and shotguns.
“These guns will be off the streets, and I think that's what's truly important in this case.”
Hanaway said if unlicensed dealers sell guns and don't record buyer information, it hampers the ability to trace weapons used in violent crimes.
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He said the flea market, located on more than 90 acres in Knox County outside of Rutledge, will operate within the law. But, he questioned if authorities may be making an example of some of those indicted.
“This is a bunch of old guys down here in the country. They like their dogs, and they like their guns, and they're not going to hurt anyone,” he said.
Federal authorities said they weren't trying to prevent the lawful sale of firearms, but that people dealing in firearms need to be licensed if they do it as their livelihood or for profit. They said in one instance more than 600 weapons were seized, in another more than 450. They said if weapons sales were not recorded, the weapons could not later be traced if they were used illegally.
The Missouri men indicted for dealing without a federal firearms license are Ronald Harvey of New London, 64; Vaughn Fogle of Memphis, 73; Daniel Brashers of Ferguson, 64; James Milburn of Powersville, 61; and Larry McCracken of Ewing, 67. The Iowa man is Donald Webb of Creston, 61.
Another Iowa man, Ivan Lemley, 64, of West Point, was a licensed firearms dealer but is charged with selling two firearms without noting the name, age and residence of the person buying them.
Three of the men face additional firearms-related charges.
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