70 BATF agents raid NE Indiana gun shop - owner faces firearms charges

[jpak]

http://www.westport-news.com/default/article/NE-Ind-gun-shop-owner-faces-firearms-charges-1333725.php

NDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The owner of a central Indiana gun shop has been charged with violating federal firearms laws.

The U.S. attorney's office says 61-year-old Charles F. Ludington faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine following a three-month investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The Star-Press of Muncie says federal agents raided Ludington's gun shop in Parker City on Tuesday and arrested him. It wasn't clear whether he had an attorney.

Prosecutors allege that Ludington sold guns to convicted felons and allowed "straw purchases" through third parties. An ATF audit found irregularities in his inventory.

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Gun shop raided by federal agents, town council president arrested

http://www.fox59.com/news/crime/wxin-federal-agents-raid-gun-shop-in-randolph-county-20110412,0,593015.story

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Ludington is the owner of Ludco Gun Shop, which is a federally licensed firearms dealership. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Ludington's shop was the subject of a routine audit by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The audit inspectors say Ludington could not account for 997 firearms that were recorded in his inventory. Investigators found 93 of them, which had not been logged into record. In 25 separate instances, a firearm was found but had been falsely recorded as sold. Also, inspectors say they found paperwork showing that on at least seven different occassions, the gun shop sold firearms to individuals who were prohibited by federal law to have them.

Ludington was also cited with selling a handgun to an out of state resident, which is in violation of federal law in addition to other regulatory and record keeping violations. Inspectors issued a warning to Ludington at that time. Following the audit, authorities launched another invesitgation in January 2011. On five separate occasions, detectives with Indiana State Police, ATF agents and a confidential informant posed as customers in Ludington's store. According to authorities, on each of these five occasions, Ludington sold firearms despite the fact that someone other than the purchaser was filling out the paperwork. The U.S. Attorney's Office says this is commonly referred to as "straw purchase." On three of the occasions, Ludington sold firearms to the confidential informant who is also a convicted felon. Investigators say Ludington knew this, but sold the firearms anyway.

More than 3,000 firearms were seized from Ludco Tuesday morning, along with records related to Ludington's business operation. The U.S. Attorney's Office claims Ludco runs an active scheme to defraud federal regulators and violate federal law.

If convicted, Ludington faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fi

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wanna know how Mexican narco-cartels and oher crooks get their guns?

from morans like this guy

bet he's a repug too

yup

[villager]

1. What!? He might miss the "Open Carry" dinner now!

n/t

[Logical]

2. Great news. The process worked and a criminal was arrested! n-t

[rl6214]

3. YUP, they're buying them in Indiana and taking them to mexico

But I thought you said the drug cartels were getting all their guns from gun shops and gun shows along the border in Texas and Arizona?

Which is it going to be, make up your mind.

and unrec for the normal shtick

[bluerum]

4. looks like a lot of unrec support this - go figure

You would think honest gun owners would want to get rid of this variety of dirt bag.

[rl6214]

7. Honest gun owners DO support getting rid of the dishonest

I unrecced for the dishonest shtick and agenda that accompanies this sort of post.

[oneshooter]

15. I unrec'd because it is jpak. Same ol thang. n/t

[MicaelS]

13. No figuring about it...

It has to do with the OP reputation, attitude, and continuing snark.

[bluerum]

20. Ah. Unreccing the person, not the post.

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

[Scuba]

5. Badger Guns in Milwaukee should be next. n/t

[gejohnston]

9. Why do you say that?

Do you know something the ATF should?

[Scuba]

14. Oh, they know.....

http://www.jsonline.com/news/94182249.html

[rl6214]

16. Every story on that page is anti gun

[Scuba]

17. Well yes. It's part of an extensive series on illegal gun sales...

...Wisconsin is NOT anti-gun.

But we are opposed to gun stores that repeatedly allow the so-called "strawman" purchases.


Badger Guns has sold a hugely disproportionate number of guns used to commit crimes. When BATF closed in, the owner sold to his relative and the new owner had a clean bill of slate. The illegal sales continue.

Our police officers are being shot with guns sold at Badger at an alarming rate. That needs to stop.


If you're looking for pro-gun articles, there's plenty in the Sports Section. Hunting, trap shooting, etc. are very popular here. Gun crimes, less so.

[rl6214]

19. I am familiar with Wisconsin hunting culture

I lived in Milwaukee until I was 12 and have relatives in the Wausau, Eagle river areas. I moved to Texas and have lived here for 37 years but love getting back up there whenever possible. If we could get the riff-raff in the industry cleaned up we would be so much better off. Good luck.

[PavePusher]

22. If you can prove collusion, go for it.

The point of "strawman" sales is to evade suspicion by the dealer, and it's rather easy to do. The store owners can't read minds.

The Badger people very likely took the easiest legal route to get the BATFE off their backs instead of fighting a ruinous legal battle that the .gov can easily outspend them in. It's not like the BATFE doesn't have a long record of harrasment and abuse of powers...

[Katya Mullethov]

24. We have the same problem in Texas with Carter's Country and J&G Sales

And this is EXACTLY how their sordid tale began .
But alas , the great depth and breadth of corruption has left them untouchable . And I fear there are many more of the illicit outlets from coast to coast that we may never hear tell of .

Unless ... oh perish the thought !!

[brewens]

6. Hide yer guns! Obama's gonna git 'em! n/t

[ManiacJoe]

8. At least some at the ATF are still doing their jobs.

Unfortunately, the odds of the straw purchasers being prosecuted are really low.

[RSillsbee]

10. This guy deserves a fair trial and the best defense possible under the law

If found guilty he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Now , why should my rights be restricted because of his (alleged) criminal actions?

[Hoyt]

11. With gun shops like this and gun shows, a lot of folks are getting guns who should not have them.

Another supposed law-abiding citizen committing gun crimes and putting more on the street.

The price we pay so that those who can't walk out of their house without a gun can keep buying more and more and more.

[spin]

12. The ATF is finally doing their job? If so good! ...

Sounds like a vast improvement over Operation Gunwalker where the agency facilitated 'straw purchase' firearm sales and allowed 1700 firearms to "walk" into Mexico.

[krispos42]

18. Good. Hope he has fun in the federal pen n/t

[Katya Mullethov]

21. Only 70 ?

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

25. It was either a REALLY big store... or they like inspecting paperwork while going nuts-on-butts.

[Katya Mullethov]

26. Very predictable though

This is the much needed positive press . It couldn't possibly be another Carter's Country fiasco , but they have done a LOT dumber things before . That would be EPIC !

[rl6214]

23. No wait, it can't be

"wanna know how Mexican narco-cartels and oher crooks get their guns"

I just read on another thread that all the guns in mexico came from a north Texas gun shop.

You guys need to make up your minds.