Harry Trueblood, Unlicensed Firearms Dealer, Missouri 2023

ST. LOUIS, MO – Harry Trueblood, 69, of St. Charles County, is facing federal sentencing after admitting to operating as an unlicensed firearms dealer, flooding the streets with weapons and ignoring repeated warnings from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case, brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, reveals a brazen disregard for the law and a direct contribution to gun violence.

Trueblood pleaded guilty to one count of being an unlicensed firearms dealer in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Thursday. The investigation began after ATF agents started noticing a disturbing trend: guns purchased by Trueblood were repeatedly turning up at crime scenes. At least 30 firearms sold by Trueblood have been recovered by law enforcement in connection with other, unrelated crimes – a damning indictment of his operation.

The feds say Trueblood peddled weapons at gun shows across at least 15 events from January 2021 through May 2023, all without the required federal license. He wasn’t a hobbyist; investigators uncovered at least 250 bills of sale documenting his firearms transactions. Even after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the ATF on February 1st of this year, ordering him to halt his illegal sales, Trueblood continued to deal in firearms, according to his plea agreement.

ATF agents weren’t relying solely on tracing recovered weapons. They went undercover, purchasing AR-15-type pistols and handguns directly from Trueblood, solidifying the evidence of his illegal operation. The disregard for the law is staggering. He wasn’t just selling guns; he was actively defying a direct order from federal agents, putting more firepower into the hands of criminals.

Prosecutors are building a case that paints Trueblood as a key enabler of criminal activity in the region. The 30+ guns linked to crimes are just the ones recovered – the true number of weapons he put on the streets could be far higher. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case, determined to hold Trueblood accountable for his actions.

Trueblood is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2024. The length of his sentence remains to be seen, but federal guidelines for unlicensed firearms dealing carry significant penalties. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who profit from illegal gun sales will face the full force of the law, and the ATF’s Kansas City Field Division will continue to investigate and prosecute such offenses.

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