Timothy Taconi, Unlicensed Firearms Dealing, Colorado 2023

DENVER, CO – Timothy Taconi, 69, of Aurora, Colorado, is facing federal charges after allegedly running an illegal firearms operation out of his home for over two years. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced the indictment today, detailing a scheme that saw Taconi dealing guns without the required license.

According to the indictment, Taconi engaged in the business of buying and selling firearms from August 2020 through February 5, 2023, all while operating outside the law. He wasn’t a licensed firearms dealer, meaning he skipped crucial background checks and record-keeping requirements – a recipe for disaster, according to sources within the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The charges don’t stop at unlicensed dealing. Taconi is also accused of possessing a silencer – a device that muffles the sound of a gunshot – that wasn’t registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. This is a serious offense, raising questions about Taconi’s intentions and the potential for concealed criminal activity. The ATF’s Denver Division spearheaded the investigation, digging into Taconi’s activities over a period of years.

Taconi made his initial court appearance on February 24, 2023, before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak. The specifics of the case number are 23-cr-00058. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Churnet and Rebecca Weber, who are expected to present evidence detailing Taconi’s alleged gun-running operation.

Federal officials are framing the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The program, recently bolstered with a new violent crime reduction strategy, aims to rebuild trust and focus enforcement on the most dangerous offenders.

While the Department of Justice touts PSN’s community-building aspect, the reality on the streets is often different. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case, digging deeper into Taconi’s alleged activities and the broader network of illegal firearms trafficking in Colorado. The indictment suggests a brazen disregard for the law, and we’ll be watching to see if the penalties fit the crime.

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