From the TheFirearmBlog.com
Connecticut gun manufacturer Stag plead guilty today to violating federal law, including the loss of 200 firearms from its record books, and the possession of 62 machine guns or receivers for machine guns not registered to the company. In the plea agreement that to the revocation of the company’s Federal Firearms License, owner Mark Malkowski agreed to sell Stag and never own another gun company again. The Hartford Courant reports: – See more at: http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/12/22/breaking-stag-arms-federal-firearms-license-revoked/#sthash.EcfHjtDG.dpuf
[UPDATE FROM STAG ARMS’ FACEBOOK PAGE]
A STATEMENT FROM STAG ARMS, LLC
NEW BRITAIN – Tuesday, December 22, 2015 – “Stag Arms, LLC today announced that the company and its founder, Mark Malkowski, have reached a resolution with government officials stemming from an investigation that began last year relating primarily to the timing of recordkeeping during the manufacturing process and compliance with federal firearms manufacturing and registration requirements. Both Stag Arms and Mr. Malkowski cooperated fully with the government throughout the investigation. While both Stag Arms and Mr. Malkowski believe that public safety was never compromised, they have agreed to enter guilty pleas and to pay significant fines, because doing so is in the best interests of the company and its employees. Mr. Malkowski has also agreed to transition the business to new ownership and is in advanced talks with a potential buyer. Mr. Malkowski will continue as a marketing consultant to the business and the industry for a period of time following the sale. Stag Arms takes its obligations to comply with all laws and regulations very seriously and has made comprehensive changes to ensure that similar problems cannot happen again and that best compliance practices are maintained in all of its operations.”
– Stag Arms, LLC
[UPDATE FROM THE ATF FACEBOOK PAGE]
New Britain Firearms Manufacturer Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Firearms Laws
Deirdre M. Daly, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division, announced that STAG ARMS LLC, a firearms manufacturer in New Britain, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to violating federal firearms laws.
“What occurred in this case is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kumor. “ATF relies on individuals and corporations who are licensed to manufacture firearms to mark them in accordance with the law, keep thorough records of the manufacture and disposition of all firearms and maintain their inventory in secure facilities to prevent their theft or loss. When firearms licensees fail to comply with these federal regulations and laws they open the door for untraceable firearms to wind up on the street in the hands of traffickers and criminals. Today’s guilty plea and the license revocations demonstrate our commitment to hold firearms licensees accountable when they place public safety at risk.”
The possession, by private citizens, of machine guns manufactured after 1986 is prohibited, and licensed manufacturers of machine guns are required to stamp a unique serial number on each machine gun and register it with ATF within one business day of manufacture.
STAG, through its rep and president Mark Malkowski, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of possession of a machine gun not registered to the company. As part of its guilty plea, STAG has agreed to pay a $500,000 fine. In addition, Malkowski is expected to appear tomorrow in New Haven federal court and plead guilty in his individual capacity to a misdemeanor charge of failure to maintain proper firearm records. As part of his guilty plea, Malkowski has agreed to pay a fine of $100,000.
Learn more at http://ow.ly/WeXhi.