A man was sentenced to two years in prison for illegally dealing firearms after he sold around 300 firearms over a 3-year period, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Timothy J. Cassinger, 49, was not a licensed firearms dealer, but he sold about 300 firearms for profit between June 2012 and October 2015, officials reported. He was sent a warning letter by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to stop what he was doing or get a license to sell firearms.
Authorities said in response to the letter from ATF, Cassinger continued to buy and sell firearms. Many of the weapons purchased were from federal firearms licensees and then resold by Cassinger at gun shows or online, according to court documents.
Court documents stated Cassinger purchased 11 firearms that were intercepted by Spanish authorities in September 2014, on a ship destined for Beirut, Lebanon. Other firearms he bought were later recovered in Cleveland, Columbus, East Cleveland, New York City, and other cities.
“The firearms sold by this defendant eventually made their way around the state, around the country and around the world,” Acting U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon said. “Those who engage in the business of selling firearms need to be licensed.”
“ATF’s core mission is reducing violent crime in our country,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Brad Earman. “When individuals illegally sell firearms, they compromise the ability of law enforcement to trace firearms and solve crimes.”
