Agents from the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have arrested a Denver man accused of providing firearms to a convicted felon.
Conard Kern, 27, is being charged on multiple counts related to the gun trafficking.
If convicted, Kern faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine for each of the two counts of unlawfully selling or otherwise disposing a firearm to a convicted felon.
Thursday’s arrest followed an investigation into the illegal trafficking, and altering and selling of high powered firearms from Lakewood gun stores.
In one instance, Kern, who worked as a part-time employee of G&G Guns, is accused of assisting a woman who stole two firearms from the gun store in the middle of the afternoon, walking out the front door.
According to an affidavit, Kern would obtain weapons from various sources. He would modify some of the guns, including obliterating serial numbers, In the case of two weapons, he converted them from semi-automatic to fully automatic.
He would then sell those weapons to convicted felons.
Kern made his first appearance in court today where he was advised of the charges. He is scheduled back on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
“The ATF will not tolerate the trafficking of illegal firearms into our communities,” said Marvin Richardson, Special Agent in Charge of the Denver ATF, in a released statement.
“We will continue with our mission in keeping the public safe by investigating all firearm related violent crime and arresting those who place the public in danger.”
The ATF worked in conjunction with the Lakewood Police Department in the investigation.
“The partnership of the law enforcement agencies involved was instrumental in solving these crimes and stopping the individual from committing more offenses,” said Lakewood Police Chief Kevin Paletta in the released statement.
