Springfield, Ohio gun dealer James A. Mayhugh, Jr., 61, has admitted to orchestrating a decade-long scheme to falsify federal firearms sale records—lying about who bought guns from his store so he could funnel weapons to the black market. Mayhugh pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to willfully violating federal recordkeeping laws, admitting he fabricated details for more than 200 gun sales.
Mayhugh, the owner of Jim’s Sports in Springfield, submitted paperwork listing the same small group of individuals as buyers between 2008 and 2018—despite glaring inconsistencies. Federal investigators discovered that the forms, which legally require the purchaser to fill out and sign in person, were all written in Mayhugh’s own handwriting. One supposed buyer had died in 2014, yet records show purchases under their name as late as 2018.
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) launched an investigation after Industry Operations Investigators (IOI) flagged suspicious patterns in his filings. The probe revealed that other listed customers hadn’t bought guns from Mayhugh in 15 to 20 years—yet his ledgers showed repeated transactions. The ATF called the fraud blatant and systemic.
A court-authorized search of Mayhugh’s business and records uncovered documentation of more than 200 firearm sales to fictitious buyers. These weapons disappeared into untraceable channels, bypassing background checks and federal oversight. By forging buyer identities, Mayhugh enabled criminals to arm themselves with guns that should have never left his store.
The charge—willfully failing to record the name, age, and address of firearm purchasers—carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. Mayhugh also agreed to permanently surrender his federal firearms license, shutting down Jim’s Sports for good. No co-conspirators have been named, but authorities warn the weapons may be linked to violent crime.
“This wasn’t sloppy bookkeeping—it was a deliberate fraud that flooded the underground gun market,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman of the Southern District of Ohio. ATF Special Agent in Charge Jonathan McPherson called the case a warning to licensed dealers who exploit their privileges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent G. Tabacchi is prosecuting the case. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date before U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.
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