Wisconsin man prosecuted for dealing firearms without license

[Chris53913]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 21, 2019
DeForest Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Firearms Without License

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Eugene Ripp, 66, DeForest, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty yesterday to willfully engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a qualifying federal firearms license.

At the plea hearing, Ripp acknowledged that he sold firearms without a license from October 2015 to December 2016. This occurred after agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives warned Ripp in July 2015 that dealing firearms without a license is unlawful.

Ripp attended gun shows throughout and outside of Wisconsin, and sold firearms using the trade name “Son of a Gun.” Ripp sold multiple AR-15-type pistols to an undercover agent in 2016. In December 2016, federal agents executed a search warrant at Ripp’s residence and seized evidence of his firearms dealing business and over 120 firearms.

Ripp faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. U.S. District Court Judge William M. Conley scheduled sentencing for May 8, 2019 at 1:00 p.m.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Antonio M. Trillo and Kevin F. Burke.
Topic(s):
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Component(s):
USAO - Wisconsin, Western
Updated February 22, 2019

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx40udwQvZI

[Chris53913]

My guess is that he will get a fine that is close to what the value of his confiscated guns are worth, 3 years supervised probation and 80 hours of community service at the local Habitat for Humanity.

[42rocker]

Folks selling your personal collection is one thing. Buying and selling lots of the same item and just buying and selling really you are looking for trouble. I was at a table at one show and watched someone across from me buy and sell 7 handguns over the weekend. Buy and then sell it That's just wrong.
Ok, if you want to do that get an FFL.
As far as this case goes he pushed a little to far.
I went thru the hoops paid the money got the FFL and did the record work as required. It's not that hard to do.
Want to play the game play by the rules.

Later 42rocker

[JBaum]

With as easy and cheap as it is to get an FFL (compared to lawyer fees, court fees, and possible jail time/confiscation of your stuff), why would anyone be so stupid to do this, especially after being warned?

If you want to improve your collection by trading/selling, and you're only interested in WW2 and earlier guns, get a Curio and Relics license ($30 for 3 years). It lets you buy and sell, but just not as a business. If someone walks into a show with a Luger, you can buy it, take it home, compare it to your other guns, and if it isn't the one you want to keep, sell it later. Perfectly legal to do that to improve/trade up for your collection. Buy it and sell it on the same day just to make money, and there's a problem.

Don't follow the rules, and it's "Stupid people winning stupid prizes". Life is tough, it's tougher when you're stupid.