Gun Dealer’s Conviction in Scheme to Sell Machine Guns Upheld

The conviction of a gun dealer who lied about the destination of a machine guns purchase, for conspiracy to commit money laundering, was upheld by the Seventh Circuit.

Under federal law, machine guns can’t be sold in the U.S. unless they’re purchased by a law enforcement agency.

Vahan Kelerchian was a firearms dealer, who, along with two Indiana sheriffs, told machine gun manufacturer Heckler & Scott they were purchasing machine guns for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Instead, the guns ended up in private collections.

A jury convicted Kelerchian of a number of counts, including conspiracy to commit money laundering. ...