JAGO
04-07-2010, 04:40
A couple of things come to mind.....
Obviously there are a lot of facts that will come out in court, but:
If they will go after him, they will certainly come after one of us for selling guns. Most of us have done some private transactions but I fear where this may end up; and,
Any time you talk to the cops you put yourself at risk. He appeared to "cooperate" and then became a suspect? Remember Martha Stewart? Remember Scooter Libby? Remember all those sports stars with performance enhancing substances? Well, Stewart did not engage in inside trading. She was convicted for false statements. Libby did not "out" the CIA agent, he was convicted for false statements. Dittos on the sports stars. If you talk to the feds and your story changes or they don't like the story you provide, 18 USC 1001 is a real Bee Itch.
v/r
phil
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_14827163?IADID=Search-www.elpasotimes.com-www.elpasotimes.com
Trial starts for agent charged in gun sales
By Maggie Ybarra \ El Paso Times
Posted: 04/06/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT
EL PASO -- An FBI agent accused of illegally selling about 50 guns for more than $118,000 went on trial Monday in U.S. District Court.
The agent, John Thomas Shipley, 40, is charged with six counts of selling the firearms without a license from January 2005 to May 2008. He is also accused of providing Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents with false sales records.
His lawyer, Robert Perez, told the jury in his opening statement that buying and selling guns was Shipley's hobby.
Perez said Shipley bought guns to enhance his firearm collection. He only sold those that did not meet his standards, Perez said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory McDonald, representing the government, said Shipley tried to hide his illegal actions by giving false sales records to federal agents after they traced a gun used in a shootout in Chihuahua, Mexico, back to him.
"Mr. Shipley, acting like he was going to help them, instead laid a trail -- a trail of deceit," McDonald said.
McDonald brought more than 20 guns into the courtroom, including handguns, shotguns and long-range sniper guns, to show the jury the range of firearms Shipley had dealt.
Some of the weapons cost about $500 while others cost more than $11,000, McDonald said.
Special Agent Andrea Simmons, spokeswoman for the FBI in El Paso, said Shipley's status is that he is suspended without pay.
Brett Fleming, evidence custodian for the ATF, testified that Shipley was originally considered a witness and seemed to be cooperative. Then Shipley provided the ATF with a retail book where items were missing the sales amount, making agents suspicious, Fleming said.
"He said he would get in trouble with his wife if she knew how much he was spending on guns," he said.
Perez said Shipley was trying to be cooperative and had been informed of the investigation into his gun sales while he was training in Dallas.
The records were supplied in a rush but were as accurate as Shipley could make them, Perez said.
Prosecutors said Shipley listed guns on a Web site more than 200 times.
Maggie Ybarra may be reached at mybarra@elpasotimes.com; 546-6151.
Obviously there are a lot of facts that will come out in court, but:
If they will go after him, they will certainly come after one of us for selling guns. Most of us have done some private transactions but I fear where this may end up; and,
Any time you talk to the cops you put yourself at risk. He appeared to "cooperate" and then became a suspect? Remember Martha Stewart? Remember Scooter Libby? Remember all those sports stars with performance enhancing substances? Well, Stewart did not engage in inside trading. She was convicted for false statements. Libby did not "out" the CIA agent, he was convicted for false statements. Dittos on the sports stars. If you talk to the feds and your story changes or they don't like the story you provide, 18 USC 1001 is a real Bee Itch.
v/r
phil
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_14827163?IADID=Search-www.elpasotimes.com-www.elpasotimes.com
Trial starts for agent charged in gun sales
By Maggie Ybarra \ El Paso Times
Posted: 04/06/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT
EL PASO -- An FBI agent accused of illegally selling about 50 guns for more than $118,000 went on trial Monday in U.S. District Court.
The agent, John Thomas Shipley, 40, is charged with six counts of selling the firearms without a license from January 2005 to May 2008. He is also accused of providing Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents with false sales records.
His lawyer, Robert Perez, told the jury in his opening statement that buying and selling guns was Shipley's hobby.
Perez said Shipley bought guns to enhance his firearm collection. He only sold those that did not meet his standards, Perez said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory McDonald, representing the government, said Shipley tried to hide his illegal actions by giving false sales records to federal agents after they traced a gun used in a shootout in Chihuahua, Mexico, back to him.
"Mr. Shipley, acting like he was going to help them, instead laid a trail -- a trail of deceit," McDonald said.
McDonald brought more than 20 guns into the courtroom, including handguns, shotguns and long-range sniper guns, to show the jury the range of firearms Shipley had dealt.
Some of the weapons cost about $500 while others cost more than $11,000, McDonald said.
Special Agent Andrea Simmons, spokeswoman for the FBI in El Paso, said Shipley's status is that he is suspended without pay.
Brett Fleming, evidence custodian for the ATF, testified that Shipley was originally considered a witness and seemed to be cooperative. Then Shipley provided the ATF with a retail book where items were missing the sales amount, making agents suspicious, Fleming said.
"He said he would get in trouble with his wife if she knew how much he was spending on guns," he said.
Perez said Shipley was trying to be cooperative and had been informed of the investigation into his gun sales while he was training in Dallas.
The records were supplied in a rush but were as accurate as Shipley could make them, Perez said.
Prosecutors said Shipley listed guns on a Web site more than 200 times.
Maggie Ybarra may be reached at mybarra@elpasotimes.com; 546-6151.