Nashville Gun Dealer Indicted

Nashville, TN - On November 16, 2000, Edward Mason, a Federal firearm licensee (FFL) and owner of Gun Mart II at 6682 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for conspiracy, possession of stolen firearms and falsifying his books. Mason was charged with the Federal firearm violations in a 27count indictment with receiving 20 stolen handguns that had been shipped or transported in interstate commerce. Mason was further charged with making false entries in his books relating to whom he had received some of the stolen guns from.

Mason was also charged with conspiring with Pete Baxer, between 1994 and 1998, to steal firearms from another Nashville gun dealer and sell them to Mason at a less than wholesale price. Mason's indictment is the result of the investigative effort of Special Agents from the Nashville Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).

In May of 1999, Baxer was sentenced to serve 4 years and 9 months incarceration and ordered to make restitution in excess of $22,000 for committing violations of Federal firearm law subsequent to ATF investigation.

On November 17, 2000, Mason surrendered himself to ATF Agents at the Federal courthouse in Nashville. Mason was brought before US Magistrate Griffin who set a $25,000 "own recognizance" bond for Mason's release.

As in all criminal cases, Mason is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted on all counts, Mason faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Assistant United States Attorney Deborah Phillips of the United States Attorney's office for the Middle Judicial District of Tennessee is prosecuting the case.