Joe David Bazan posted two pitches on Facebook pages to sell a pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun on Saturday.
A detective with the Gore Range Narcotic Interdiction Team, which includes law enforcement from Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and the Vail Police Department, spotted the ad, recognized Bazan as a known felon, and responded.
The detectives from the team knew Bazan from previous operations where they allegedly purchased cocaine from him more than once, according to a news release Friday from the Eagle County Sheriff’s office. Bazan had been arrested earlier this month and was currently out on bond with his next court appearance scheduled for Tuesday.
After seeing the posts, detectives set up another undercover operation. Detectives met and successfully purchased the pistol from Bazan. The shotgun had already been sold he told police, according to the news release.
Bazan was arrested Thursday and is being held on charges of possession of a weapon by a previous offender, violation of bail bond, and for a misdemeanor for selling a firearm without completing a background check.
In Colorado it is illegal to sell a firearm without completing background check procedures prior to the sale.
Bazan is being held on a $30,000 bond.
