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Gun Experts Charged With Fraud Over Sale
By Associated Press
January 24, 2003, 10:59 AM EST
PHILADELPHIA -- Two firearms experts were indicted on charges of swindling a gun collector in a deal involving antique pistols, including guns owned by legendary Texas Ranger Samuel H. Walker.
Federal prosecutors accuse Richard Ellis of LaClaire, Iowa, and Michael Zomber of Franklin, Tenn., of conspiring to trick the unidentified Bucks County collector into paying $3.2 million for the mid-19th century revolvers.
Zomber and Ellis had purchased the guns for about $1.6 million, prosecutors said.
The buyer, identified in Thursday's indictment as J.M., paid Ellis to represent him as a consultant in the deal. Prosecutors said Zomber and Ellis fabricated correspondence to trick the collector into thinking he was in a bidding war with other buyers.
Ellis's attorney, Francis Devine, said he hadn't seen the indictment and could not immediately comment.
Zomber's lawyer, Gilbert Scutti, said the gun was worth as much as the buyer paid for it.
Zomber and Ellis were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. They remained free and were likely be summoned to court rather than arrested, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Goldman.
Investigators said the pistol sales took place between 1997 and 1999.
Among the guns were two .44-caliber revolvers that gunsmith Samuel Colt had given as gifts to Walker, who had been influential in their design. Walker served during the Mexican War and was killed in 1847 while leading a charge in Mexico.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationw...74393.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines
By Associated Press
January 24, 2003, 10:59 AM EST
PHILADELPHIA -- Two firearms experts were indicted on charges of swindling a gun collector in a deal involving antique pistols, including guns owned by legendary Texas Ranger Samuel H. Walker.
Federal prosecutors accuse Richard Ellis of LaClaire, Iowa, and Michael Zomber of Franklin, Tenn., of conspiring to trick the unidentified Bucks County collector into paying $3.2 million for the mid-19th century revolvers.
Zomber and Ellis had purchased the guns for about $1.6 million, prosecutors said.
The buyer, identified in Thursday's indictment as J.M., paid Ellis to represent him as a consultant in the deal. Prosecutors said Zomber and Ellis fabricated correspondence to trick the collector into thinking he was in a bidding war with other buyers.
Ellis's attorney, Francis Devine, said he hadn't seen the indictment and could not immediately comment.
Zomber's lawyer, Gilbert Scutti, said the gun was worth as much as the buyer paid for it.
Zomber and Ellis were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. They remained free and were likely be summoned to court rather than arrested, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Goldman.
Investigators said the pistol sales took place between 1997 and 1999.
Among the guns were two .44-caliber revolvers that gunsmith Samuel Colt had given as gifts to Walker, who had been influential in their design. Walker served during the Mexican War and was killed in 1847 while leading a charge in Mexico.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationw...74393.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines