An Arizona man was charged with the manufacture and sale of armor piercing ammunition without a license, federal authorities announced today.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Douglas Haig, 55, of Mesa, Ariz., is charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy to manufacture and sell armor piercing ammunition without a license.
The charge stems from an investigation into the October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, where Stephen Paddock, the perpetrator, allegedly purchased armor piercing ammunition from Haig.
According to the criminal complaint, Haig met with Paddock on more than one occasion, and Paddock met Haig at his home in September of 2017 to purchase ammunition.
Hailing from Mesa, Ariz., Haig had previously operated “Specialized Military Ammunition,” an Internet business selling high explosive armor piercing incendiary ammunition, armor piercing incendiary ammunition, and armor piercing ammunition.
Business records reveal that Haig sold armor piercing ammunition throughout the U.S., including Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming, and South Carolina.
Haig did not have a license to manufacture armor piercing ammunition.
During an interview, Haig told investigators that he reloads ammunition, but does not offer reloaded cartridges for sale to his customers and none of the ammunition recovered in Las Vegas crime scenes would have tool marks on them consistent with his reloading equipment.
However, a forensic examination of rounds recovered in the shooter’s hotel rooms revealed that Haig’s fingerprints were found on reloaded, unfired .308 caliber cartridges.
The public is reminded that a criminal complaint contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Hailing from Mesa, Ariz., Douglas Haig appeared this afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Michelle H. Burns and was released on a bond with conditions pending a status conference regarding scheduling of a preliminary hearing on February 15 in Phoenix.
If convicted, Haig faces the statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
Key Facts
- State: Nevada
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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