Buckeye Reporter

When Paul Szabo acquired Shooter’s Emporium in 2020, located near Indianapolis, he had reservations about an employee who was later dismissed. These concerns were validated when an internal audit revealed the disappearance of a Ruger American Rimfire rifle valued at $350, leading to the former employee as the prime suspect.

Szabo attempted to resolve the issue directly by offering the suspect a chance to return the firearm. "I gave him the opportunity to return the rifle. He told us to f— off, so we called the police," Szabo recounted to the Second Amendment Foundation. Subsequently, in July 2022, Szabo reported the incident to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

After six months, charges were filed against the suspect for theft and forgery related to firearms under state law. Despite this progress, nearly three years have passed without a trial date being set. The suspect has since found employment at a rival gun shop and allegedly engaged in activities that harmed Szabo's business.

"He hacked all of our social media accounts. He hacked our special-order accounts. We started losing customers to the other dealer," said Szabo. An email from the prosecuting attorney presented Szabo with a document showing a Form 4473 for the missing rifle filled out by another local Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL), suggesting further complications in handling evidence.

Szabo expressed frustration over why federal prosecution by ATF has not occurred: "We just sent off another letter to the ATF asking how can I have a 4473 from a different gun shop." He continued questioning why federal charges haven't been pursued given evidence of falsified documentation: "I don’t know why they’re not charging him federally."

The trial has been rescheduled multiple times over three years with another date set for late April. Efforts to reach ATF for comment were unsuccessful as calls and emails went unanswered.

The situation raises questions about jurisdictional responsibility and effectiveness in handling cases involving fraudulent firearm transactions which are typically under federal purview rather than state investigation.

The case exemplifies broader issues within enforcement priorities during Joe Biden's presidency where smaller-scale incidents might be overshadowed by larger cases despite potential legal implications.

Lee Williams serves as chief editor for Second Amendment Foundation's Investigative Journalism Project and granted permission for republishing this story.

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