Federal prosecutors have slammed two Fort Wayne-area men with serious gun charges after a probe into illegal weapons and falsified federal records. Nathan Kaiser, 48, and Leary Kaiser, 20, both of Butler, Indiana, were hit with separate indictments over their alleged roles tied to Darkside Armory, a federally licensed firearms dealer.
Nathan Kaiser, owner of Darkside Armory, was charged in a 17-count indictment that includes possession of an unregistered machine gun, multiple unregistered silencers, and a bump stock device—violations of the National Firearms Act. Authorities say the weapons were found during the course of an investigation that uncovered a pattern of illegal firearm modifications and unlicensed stockpiling at the business.
Leary Kaiser, who worked at the armory, faces a 4-count indictment accusing him of falsifying ATF Form 4473, the federal document used to record gun purchases. He allegedly inflated the number of firearms sold during transactions and later lied to federal agents when questioned, obstructing the investigation.
“The alleged charges here should send a strong message that illegal weapon possession and falsification of firearm related purchase documents will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Kirsch. “I wish to commend ATF for their hard work on this case and their commitment to public safety that flows from compliance with the National Firearms Act requirements.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stressed that an indictment is merely an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Still, the charges carry serious weight—convictions could result in years behind bars, with sentencing ultimately determined by a federal judge weighing statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey R. Speith. As the legal process unfolds, the case shines a light on federal oversight of gun dealers and the consequences of skirting the law in America’s ongoing battle over firearm accountability.
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