Attorney General Lockyer Announces the Arrest of Four Individuals Who Broke Gun Laws at Los Angeles Gun Show

Tuesday, June 8, 1999
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

Sacramento - Attorney General Bill Lockyer today announced that four arrests have been made in recent weeks of individuals who made illegal weapons-related sales to undercover Department of Justice (DOJ) agents during the Great Western Gun Show at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds last month.

"Illegal gun trafficking is a real problem in California that must be rooted out and eliminated," Lockyer said. "These arrests should send a message to those who think it's okay to violate state and local gun laws -- we are going to vigorously enforce the laws in California. I look forward to working with other state and local law enforcement agencies to improve public safety by enforcing our gun laws."

A DOJ sting operation at the Great Western Gun Show, April 30 - May 2, 1999, found illegal gun trafficking was occurring at the show. Over the course of the three-day event in the City of Pomona, DOJ agents from the Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement and the Bureau of Investigation, trained in the enforcement of state and local gun laws, purchased and obtained immediate possession of several prohibited weapons and components without a criminal history background check and without a 10-day waiting period as required by law.

The Great Western Gun Show is promoted as the largest gun show in the West. Hundreds of vendors offered thousands of weapons for sale at approximately 5,300 "display" tables during the show.

The following four individuals have been arrested and charged with specified violations of state firearms laws punishable by a sentence of up to eight years in state prison. All of the individuals will be prosecuted by the Los Angeles District Attorney.

1. Arnold Albert Krueger, of Montclair, has been charged with illegal sale of an assault weapon [Penal Code Section 12280(a)(1)]. Krueger sold a Colt AR-15 assault weapon to an undercover DOJ agent. The Colt AR-15 is a prohibited weapon under the terms of the Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989.

2. Scott William Mills, of Oak Park in Southern California, has been charged with illegal sale of a machine gun [Penal Code Section 12220(b)]. Mills sold a lower receiver for an HK-MP-5 to an undercover DOJ agent at the Pomona gun show. The lower receiver allows the user to fire the gun as a fully automatic machine gun. Mills is a licensed federal and California firearms dealer.

3. Gary Lee Cain, of San Ramon, has been charged with illegal sale of a machine gun [Penal Code Section 12220(b)]. Cain sold a lower receiver for an HK-MP-5 to an undercover DOJ agent at the Pomona gun show. At the time of his arrest, Cain was in possession of two flame throwers that were subsequently seized. Cain is an employee of a gun store.

4. Ronald William Rudloff, of Stockton, has been charged with illegal sale of an assault weapon [Penal Code Section 12280(a)(1)]. Rudloff sold an MK-7 Sterling assault weapon to an undercover DOJ agent at the Pomona gun show. The MK-7 Sterling assault weapon is a prohibited assault weapon under the terms of the Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989. Rudloff is a licensed gun dealer in California who owns a security business and gun store in Stockton.

Other illegal gun sales at the Pomona gun show are still under investigation.

Currently, the Attorney General's Office does not have a specialized unit dedicated to enforcing gun laws in California. Attorney General Lockyer is supporting two legislative proposals this year that would address illegal weapon-related sales at gun shows by creating a Firearms Enforcement Unit within the Department of Justice (Assembly Bill 1097 by Assemblymember Gloria Romero) and require additional regulation of gun shows in California (Assembly Bill 295 by Assemblymember Ellen Corbett).

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