Int’l Arms Trafficking Scheme Uncovered in Tennessee
A federal grand jury has indicted five individuals and a Nashville-based firearms manufacturer in an international arms trafficking scheme, announced authorities on [Date].
The defendants, including Guy Savage, 42, a citizen of the United Kingdom and owner of Sabre Defence Industries LLC (SDI-US), a Nashville-based arms manufacturer, were charged with conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and related offenses.
The indictment alleges that the defendants were part of a conspiracy to illegally import and export regulated firearms and firearm components and technology to and from the United States.
According to the indictment, Savage directed the illegal activities from his personal residences in the United Kingdom, as well as from a related company owned by Savage, Sabre Defence Industries LTD (SDI-UK), which is a licensed manufacturer, distributor, and importer of firearms and firearms headquartered in the United Kingdom.
The indictment alleges that each of the defendants conspired to intentionally violate the AECA by causing firearms components, which are listed as defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List (USML), to be exported from the United States to an international location without first obtaining a license or written authorization for such export from the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) of the U.S. Department of State.
The indictment references specific shipping documents and internal e-mail communications in which the defendants and others, including SDI-US and SDI-UK employees, conspired to illegally avoid U.S. import and export laws and regulations in order to smuggle firearm components into and from the United States by falsifying shipping records, concealing unlicensed firearms components in false boxes, and mislabeling packages.
The defendants, including Charles Shearon, 55, of Ashland City, Tenn., and president of SDI-US; Elmer Hill, 64, of Brentwood, Tenn., and chief financial officer of SDI-US; Michael Curlett, 44, of Hermitage, Tenn., and director of sales for SDI-US; and Arnold See Jr., 54, of Antioch, Tenn., who is the international shipping and purchasing manager of SDI-US, were part of the conspiracy to illegally import and export regulated firearms and firearm components and technology to and from the United States.
The indictment alleges that the defendants had been engaged in the illegal import and export activities since at least 2003.
“The indictment unsealed today alleges a nearly decade-long scheme to thwart U.S. import/export restrictions on firearms and their components,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer. “The defendants allegedly went to great lengths to conceal their activities and evade U.S. laws – mislabeling packages, falsifying shipping records, and maintaining a fictitious set of books and records, among other things. The illegal trade of firearms and their components poses serious risks, and as this case shows, we cannot and will not tolerate it.”
The investigation and indictment are an example of how the United States Attorney’s Office, the Criminal Division, HSI, ATF, and international law enforcement agencies are working together to prevent firearms and firearm components from being diverted to locations around the world, said U.S. Attorney Jerry E. Martin.
“We recognize the role that weapons play in a sometimes violent world and we will vigorously enforce the laws to prevent the illegal importation of firearms and firearm components,” said U.S. Attorney Martin.
The indictment alleges 21 counts of conspiracy to violate the AECA, with each defendant facing significant prison time if convicted.
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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