ATF arrests suspects in ring that provided 37 guns to California felons

By Roman Gokhman
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 09/03/2009 10:50:01 PM PDT

Two people were arrested Thursday in connection with an illegal firearms ring that authorities say distributed at least 37 weapons to felons throughout the Bay Area and in Colorado.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced the arrest of two men who allegedly forged documents to purchase the firearms. Jerry Jones and Sanae Quiroz-Jones of Colorado Springs, Colo., are accused of being straw buyers for the weapons.

Wendy Gardiner, of Colorado Springs, and former Vallejo resident Travis Price were also named as suspects following a six-month investigation, the ATF said in a news release.

Federal investigators said the four ran an illegal interstate firearms trafficking scheme.

Jones, 48, and Quiroz-Jones, 53, were arrested in Denver on Wednesday. Both were released on bail and ordered to appear in U.S. District Court in Sacramento on Sept. 11.

Price, 33, is being held in a state prison in Taft. An arrest warrant was issued for Gardiner, who is considered a fugitive.

The four suspects are alleged to have sold firearms without a license and made false statements to a licensed firearms dealer during the acquisition of firearms, the news release said.

Price and Gardiner were also charged with being felons possessing firearms shipped or transported in interstate commerce.

Twelve of the 37 firearms allegedly sold by the ring have been recovered in police investigations throughout the Bay Area, the ATF said.

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