WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (CBS4)– Federal authorities want the owner of Gunsmoke, Inc. gun shop in Wheat Ridge to forfeit hundreds of firearms and other items seized in a raid in March.
The gun shop was the subject of the now cancelled reality show “American Guns” on the Discovery Channel starring Rich Wyatt. Now its plot seems more like a crime movie and Gunsmoke is without its guns.
It was March 31 when federal agents raided the gun shop. Hundreds of firearms, along with ammunition and other items were seized. A federal court forfeiture document includes “Several firearms that Wheat Ridge Police Department had listed as stolen, Denver Police Department badges and United States currency.”
(credit: CBS)
Authorities are returning the weapons to the owners and trying to determine the origin and authenticity of the badges.
This is just one piece of a much broader criminal investigation being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the IRS.
In addition, Wheat Ridge police have a case in which Wyatt is facing a charge of theft from an at-risk adult involving a gun on consignment.
The federal investigation determined that Wyatt was operating without a valid license and that transactions were taking place through other gun stores. He told an undercover officer they were not selling them, just transferring them.
Gunsmoke gun shop in Wheat Ridge (credit: CBS)
The reality show is no more and Gunsmoke’s doors are closed.
A law enforcement official indicated to CBS4 that the Denver Police badges were not stolen,but it appears they were given to him. Those badges are considered property of the City and County of Denver.
Wyatt is trying get back all the items that were seized.
The IRS began investigating Gunsmoke shortly after the burglary and conducted a similar raid in March of 2013.
CBS4’s Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.
