By Heather Willard | Fox31
DENVER (KDVR) — The co-owners of a Denver-based firearms business have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to one count each of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., and after one of the co-owners also pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm.
Campbell Slayden, 26, a co-owner of Modern Arms and Optics LLC, was sentenced to 50 months in prison and pleaded guilty to two counts: conspiracy to defraud and possession of an unregistered firearm. Anthony Gallegos, 26, also a co-owner of the company, was sentenced to 36 months for conspiracy to defraud.
The sentences were announced on Wednesday by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
The pairs’ plea agreements detail how Modern Arms and Optics, which is a federal firearms licensee and dealer, conducted business both in Denver and at numerous gun shows across the state. Federal prosecutors say that Slayden and Gallegos had deceptive practices while conducting business to hide information, mislead and avert inquiries from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Federal investigators say this allowed the business to conceal unlawful firearms manufacturing practices in federally required records.
“Gun shop owners and dealers have a crucial role in ensuring that firearms do not fall into the hands of criminals. That role is to follow federal firearms laws,” said Acting United States Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “If they do not, we will prosecute them.”