One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
SoCal cops charged with selling guns on the black market
A Gardena Police Department sign. (via NBC L.A.)
(
NBC L.A.
)
Listen
SoCal cops charged with selling guns on the black market
Federal prosecutors announced Monday that they've charged two members of the Gardena Police Department with illegally purchasing guns and selling about 100 firearms on the black market.
Carlos Miguel Fernandez, 42, and Edward Yasushiro Arao, 47, were arrested Friday for allegedly selling the weapons, mostly .38-caliber pistols. They pleaded not guilty.
Last month, a federal grand jury indicted Pasadena Police Lt. Vasken Gourdikian for illegally selling more than 100 firearms between March 2014 and February 2017. Gourdikian also pleaded not guilty.
According to the latest indictment, Fernandez advertised firearms for sale on Instagram, using the handle “the38superman.” As a police officer, he was able to purchase Colt .38 handguns that were not available to the general public, known as “off-roster” weapons. Prosecutors say he sold dozens of these guns through private-party transfers.
Arao, who was the CEO of Ronin Tactical Group, which was a federal firearms licensee, similarly advertised guns on Instagram, according to the indictment. It said he would obtain off-roster weapons by transferring them to himself from Ronin’s inventory.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
