Posted on 06/20/2018 9:43:04 AM PDT by Simon Green
A search of a felon’s home in Agua Dulce led Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators to a stash of more than 500 firearms, marking one of the largest seizures from a person forbidden by law from possessing guns.
Investigators raided the home of Manuel Fernandez after getting a tip that he had an arsenal of firearms. After entering the property early Thursday, they found a staggering number of weapons, including rifles, shotguns and handguns, some decades old.
Fernandez, 60, was arrested after the raid, during which investigators found 432 guns. A search the next day uncovered 91 firearms concealed in the house. Investigators also seized electronics used to purchase the weapons.
The investigation led detectives to a woman linked to the firearms purchases. While she was not home, detectives recovered 30 guns from her home, officials said.
“The case is a testament to the community’s involvement in reducing crime and taking guns out of the hands of criminals,” Sheriff Jim McDonnell said, citing it as a positive example of the department’s “see something, say something” campaign.
Fernandez was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms, a felon in possession of ammunition and possession of large-capacity magazines. His bail was set at $35,000, and he bonded out of jail on Friday.
The Sheriff’s Department and the California Department of Justice found so many guns that they asked the Bureau Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives for assistance. Investigators spent days checking the weapons to try to determine their history.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the owner seems to be a firearms collector as opposed to someone about to use the guns for violence.
Sheriff’s detectives plan to present a case to the district attorney’s office for prosecution, officials said.
I’ve driven through Agua Dulce dozens of times - who knew ?
It's a nice start, but dude has a way to go before it's a real COLLECTION.
Fast and furious operative?
I sure feel safer now.
Probably some nice stuff in there that the filthy bastards will destroy.
Since when is being a gun collector a crime? He’s a “felon”? What made him one? Forgot to file his FBAR like they’ve got Paul Manafort in jail for? I’ve read that with all the goddamned stupid laws on the books we all inadvertently commit 3 felonies a day.
Ok...I’ll have to admit that I’m impressed! Usually I’m laughing at how pitiful the “arsenals” seized are, but that is an impressive collection!
Lots of good looking C&R guns going into Police Chief’s gun collection soon.
Lots of good looking C&R guns going into Police Chief’s gun collection soon.
Sweetwater, California. Sounds like a nice place to retire.
Would like to know what the Felony was and when it was committed. Should have collected Marijuana that is legal in California.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the owner seems to be a firearms collector as opposed to someone about to use the guns for violence.
Did nobody say or did the reporter intentionally leave what the guy’s past felony was?
“Find the Mosin!” 2nd & 4th to the right off the brown T-shirt guy? Looks like a fair number of WW2 surplus type rifles.
I checked a bunch of stories. All I could find is:
It's unclear what felony he was previously convicted of. He was sentenced to 486 days in jail in February 2017, and was released in August 2017, according to jail records.
A felon is not required to register his firearms.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haynes_v._United_States
Oh, I see a British Jungle Carbine in that mess!
The T-shirt guy is holding the best of the whole lot an M1A!
Just look at all those Evil 5-shot bolt action army surplus rifles banned from import back in 1968 because they were EVIL!
Bet you can’t find much ammo for some of them today.
You can bet that the really choice items will disappear out the back door.
The owner is obviously a scuba diver who has spent some time helping to recover firearms lost in boating accidents.
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