Gun Collector Arrested on Staten Island
Used Federal License to Illegally get Handguns BROOKLYN, N.Y., March 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Staten Island man was arrested Wednesday, March 19, 2008, by members of a federal gun task force for using a restricted federal firearms license (FFL) to illegally obtain handguns in New York City. Julius Bowens, age 37 of 75 Kimberly Lane, Staten Island was arrested by members of the ATF Joint Firearms Task Force after the Task Force executed a controlled delivery of two (2) handguns at Bowens' residence.
The arrest was announced today by William G. McMahon, Special Agent in
Bowens was issued his FFL as a "Collector of Curios and Relics" (C&R license) in March 2007. This license entitled him to only collect specific firearms which are of special interest to collectors by reason of some quality other than is associated with firearms intended for sporting use or as offensive or defensive weapons. Over the past year, Bowens used a computer to bid on and acquire handguns not covered under his FFL. He originally attempted to purchase a handgun from an individual in Florida, and when that person realized Bowens did not have the proper license, he notified ATF. Further investigation disclosed that Bowens had tried to use the internet to obtain handguns from other FFL's in both Texas and Florida. When these dealers asked to see Bowens' gun license, he backed off. In July 2007, Bowens attempted to purchase a .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol through an internet gun broker Web site. The seller, after viewing Bowens FFL, refused to transfer the weapon to him. Bowens then tried a second FFL in the same manner for two handguns but the results were the same as the first. Ultimately, a licensed gun dealer in Florida did send Bowens a handgun. In December 2007, Bowens was able to obtain a .357 caliber revolver which he is not authorized to obtain on his C&R license. The Florida FFL was interviewed by ATF and subsequently received a second order from Bowens on March 7, 2008. BOWENS sent a postal money order to R.A.K. Trading Corp., in Clearwater, Fla., in the amount of $260 for two handguns, a .380 caliber and 9 millimeter. On March 18, the above-mentioned handguns were delivered to Bowens at his residence during a controlled delivery. The defendant signed for and took possession of the package. A consent search of his residence yielded an additional six (6) handguns. Agents were then able to secure a federal search warrant and, with the assistance of an ATF trained explosives detecting canine currently assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service, were able to uncover an additional two (2) handguns. The K-9s are trained to alert on explosives residue and therefore able to alert to the gunpowder residue still in the hidden firearms. All totaled, 10 handguns were seized in addition to over 600 rounds of ammunition, a laptop computer, various documents relating to the purchase and shipping of firearms, and two (2) ballistic vests. Bowens appeared before a U.S. Magistrate in Brooklyn Federal Court where he was released on $20,000 personal recognizance bond. The government's case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Brian Meagher, an attorney on the staff of Benton J. Campbell, United States Attorney, Eastern District of New York. The investigation is continuing. SAC McMahon would also like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service, EDNY for providing the explosives detecting canine. The ATF Joint Firearms Task Force is a cooperative effort among ATF, the NYPD and the New York State Police to target illegal interstate firearms trafficking. The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. More information on ATF and its programs is available at http://www.atf.gov/. First Call Analyst:
CONTACT: ATF Special Agent Joseph Green, +1-718-650-4022, or Lt. Glenn Web Site: http://www.atf.gov/
2008-03-20 16:27:21 0317621 PRNEWSWIRE
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