Canadian Gunrunner Skolseg Gets Over a Year

GREAT FALLS, MT – Colby Stephan Skolseg, 44, of Alberta, Canada, is headed to federal prison after admitting to a brazen, decade-long scheme to illegally traffic firearms from the United States into Canada. Skolseg received a sentence of one year and one day, followed by one year of supervised release, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris.

The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart, detailed a two-pronged operation. Back in September 2010, Skolseg and an accomplice attempted to move eight handguns across the border, concealing them within an aquarium cooler. These weren’t just any guns – they had their serial numbers deliberately obliterated, a clear attempt to evade detection and accountability. Fortunately, sharp-eyed Canadian law enforcement were able to restore the numbers, unraveling the initial plot.

But Skolseg didn’t learn his lesson. Two years later, he and his partner adapted, ditching personal border crossings for the anonymity of online transactions. They began purchasing 25 additional handguns from West Virginia, shipping them in multiple packages to Calgary. This wasn’t a hobby; it was a business, intended to resell the illegally imported firearms on the Canadian market. The investigation revealed a calculated effort to profit from the flow of weapons across international lines.

The bust was a collaborative effort, involving a multi-agency task force. Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Montana Department of Justice, the Canada Border Service Agency, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police all contributed to building the case against Skolseg. The forensic work of the RCMP lab proved crucial in tracing the guns and linking them back to Skolseg.

U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme’s office made it clear that this case highlights the ongoing threat of firearms trafficking. “This sentence sends a message that we will aggressively prosecute those who attempt to illegally export firearms and endanger our communities, both here and abroad,” a statement from his office read. The investigation underscores the ease with which criminals attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in the US system to arm themselves in Canada, circumventing stricter Canadian gun laws.

Skolseg’s guilty plea to attempted illegal export served as the foundation for the sentencing. While one year plus a day might seem lenient to some, federal sentencing guidelines, combined with Skolseg’s cooperation, likely played a role in the final decision. Regardless, the conviction and imprisonment of Colby Stephan Skolseg represent a victory for cross-border law enforcement and a step towards disrupting the flow of illegal firearms.