Two Denver men, co-owners of a gun shop called Modern Arms & Optics LLC, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges for defrauding the United States, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. On separate dates, Campbell Slayden and Anthony Gallegos admitted to acts of deception involving the illegal manufacture and transfer of firearms. "It is crucial for gun shop owners and dealers to follow the laws that help keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and keep our communities safe," Acting United States Attorney Matt Kirsch stated, as per the U.S. Department of Justice.
Slayden's guilty plea, which took place on July 25, encompassed one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Gallegos followed suit by pleading guilty to a single count of conspiracy to defraud on September 23. Their operation, in existence from 2019 to 2023, was found to have circumvented legal procedures designed strictly to closely vet and restrict firearm distribution. Attempts to deliberately hide their transactions from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), involved the creation of so-called "straw purchases," enabling guns to be placed into the hands of those not legally permitted to casually own them.
Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman, who handled the prosecution, highlighted the necessity of upholding firearm regulations to safeguard public safety. The court proceedings were overseen by Judge Gordon P. Gallagher, with investigations into the shop's practices led by the ATF. The underlying issues tied to straw purchasing and illegal manufacturing are of particular concern to law enforcement agencies working diligently to ensure that firearms do not end up as the tools of illicit activities on the streets.
The prosecution of Slayden and Gallegos is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), as emphasized by the plea announcement. PSN represents a concerted effort to decisively reduce violent crime and gun violence by strengthening partnerships between law enforcement and community organizations. Launched on May 26, 2021, the Department's violent crime reduction strategy aims to foster trust in communities, support organizations to prevent potential violence, target enforcement priorities strategically, and to transparently measure results in the ongoing fight against criminal undertakings.
