Gun Collector Indicted after BATF raid

[pax]

from http://www.journalstar.com/local?story_id=3620&date=20010525&past=

Former gun collector indicted
BY BUTCH MABIN Lincoln Journal Star

A federal grand jury this week indicted former antique gun collector Roy Rorabaugh, three months after authorities raided his home and confiscated more than 125 firearms.
Rorabaugh, 76, was charged Wednesday with being a felon in possession of firearms. If convicted, he could receive up to 10 years in prison, said Mike Wellman, first assistant U.S. Attorney for Nebraska.

According to the indictment, Rorabaugh was in possession of 29 firearms Feb. 20. On that date, agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Lincoln police seized an estimated 125 firearms - many of them vintage Winchester and rifles and Colt pistols dating from the 1800s - and ammunition from the south Lincoln residence.

Rorabaugh, a longtime gun collector, was sentenced in 1996 to one year of probation after being found guilty of possessing firearms with obliterated or removed serial numbers, a felony offense. He also was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and make restitution of $13,700.

Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms.

The 1996 conviction was the culmination of an ATF investigation of Rorabaugh's involvement in a scheme to erase serial numbers of third-generation single-action Colt revolvers. Authorities said he replaced the numbers with serial numbers assigned to more valuable first-generation revolvers.

"We feel confident we can show he had dominion over these firearms," said Wellman, declining further comment.

Rorabaugh's attorney, Stephen Charest, declined comment on the indictment Thursday.

The Lincoln attorney filed a civil lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court on behalf of Rorabaugh's wife, Velma, seeking return of the collection. Charest said government authorities at the time had not provided her with a reason for the seizure. He said the collection was worth "many thousands" of dollars.

Charest also alleged in the lawsuit Roy Rorabaugh transferred ownership of the firearms and antique ammunition to his wife Nov. 1, 1996.

The man was sentenced Nov. 12.

Reach Butch Mabin at 473-7234 or bmabin@journalstar.com.

 

[John/az2]

...make restitution of $13,700.

Um, to whom? The ATF for their expenses for the raid?

Granted, if this man was changing serial numbers to commit fraud, then slam him. But does such a thing warrant a "felony" charge?

Wait a minute... restitution to those that he defrauded, I'll bet.

Okay.

It's still a shame to have all those vintage firearms in the hands of the ATF...

 

[Jim V]

It is a shame to have any firearms in the hands of the BATF.

 

[George Hill]

Now tell me this...
He is stupid enough to think a collector will not be able to tell the difference between a third generation and a 1st?

"Well, it looks like a 3rd, but the serial number clearly shows its a first."


Congratulations to the ATF for a job well done!

 

[RH]

I don't see the problem here.

He's a convicted horse thief, and it looks like maybe he was gearing up to get back in the thieving business.

 

[Gopher a 45]

Obliterated (by age/rust) or done intentionally? They don't say, but I'll sleep better knowing this dangerous, violent codger is safely behind bars while some punk with a stolen .357 is free to roam about.