Harry Trueblood, Unlicensed Firearms Dealer, Missouri 2024

A St. Charles County man has been sentenced to five years of probation for illegally selling hundreds of guns.

Harry Trueblood, 69, pleaded guilty in November to one count of being an unlicensed firearms dealer. He admitted selling firearms at not less than 15 gun shows from January of 2021 through May of 2023 despite never having been licensed to deal in firearms.

Trueblood purposely avoided obtaining a Federal Firearms License (FFL), Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski said in court Monday.

The guns sold illegally by Trueblood were recovered at the scene of a homicide, a suicide and other shootings and from felons and a juvenile, Szczucinski said. One person with mental health issues severe enough that he was turned away from two gun stores found Trueblood and bought a firearm from him, Szczucinski said in court.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating Trueblood after multiple guns recovered in unrelated crimes were traced back to him as the original purchaser.

Trueblood sold AR-15-type pistols and handguns to undercover ATF agents before the ATF on Feb. 1, 2023 sent him a cease and desist letter ordering him to stop dealing in firearms without a license.

Trueblood continued to sell guns, his plea agreement says.

Under the terms of his sentence, Trueblood is a convicted felon and is barred from possessing, let alone selling, firearms. He must also complete 200 hours of community service.

The ATF investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuting the case.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Weapons

Shykeem Kartarell Grant, Machinegun Possession, Alabama 2023

Apr 9, 2026

Weapons

Stephan Marshall, Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon, Florida 2022

Apr 9, 2026

Weapons

Aquilla Jessie, Felon with Firearm, Illinois 2023

Apr 9, 2026

Weapons

Roderick Phillips, Gun Possession, Georgia 2021

Feb 26, 2021