An Oklahoma man has admitted to committing a crime in Florida involving a complex trafficking operation for firearms. He pleaded guilty to two charges of making false statements on records as a licensed firearms dealer. This illegal scheme involved converting and selling a total of 177 firearms, which were falsely classified as assault rifle-style pistols for the purpose of selling them.
Christopher John Murchison, aged 52, could potentially be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in federal prison. However, a date for his sentencing has yet to be determined.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) reported that Murchison, together with Michael Sawyer and Randolph Swindle, collaborated to unlawfully traffic around 177 firearms.
Authorities uncovered a sophisticated scheme involving Sawyer’s online purchase of firearms and their subsequent shipment to Swindle, a federal firearms licensee located in Bunnell, Florida.
According to officials, Sawyer took the firearms and proceeded to prefill ATF Form 4473s using his own name, as well as his mother’s and friend’s names. These falsified forms were then passed on to Murchison, who utilized them to obtain the firearms from Swindle.
Murchison proceeded to reconstruct the firearms into pistols resembling assault rifles. These modified weapons were then given back to Sawyer for the purpose of being sold on the streets.
Between July 2021 and Feb. 2022, the group bought, altered, and trafficked around 177 firearms, according to officials.
A significant number of the firearms that have been recovered are connected to criminal activities both within Puerto Rico and internationally, particularly in Colombia.
All three individuals have been arrested and admitted their guilt. Swindle and Sawyer have each pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements on records and could face a maximum of five years in federal prison.