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Deputies' Mock Store Nets Stolen Goods

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By MIKE WELLS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 1, 2007

TAMPA - Anybody wanting to sell a stolen gun probably wouldn't take it to a legitimate gun store - there are just too many hoops to jump through, Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee said.

That's why his detectives opened a shady little electronics store in Seffner to snatch those guns from the street.

A rise in violent crimes involving guns at the start of 2006 prompted the sheriff's office to place undercover detectives in a mock store called DAG's Electronics at 12008 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

At a news conference Wednesday, Gee stood side by side with masked detectives and federal agents in front of 214 weapons recovered during the 'Deputies Against Guns' operation.

The weapons ranged from a gold, pearl-handled Ruger pistol to sawed-off shotguns and assault rifles.

Word 'spread like wildfire' that the electronics store was the place to unload hot guns for cool cash, the sheriff said.

'If most businesses had a marketing plan like us, they'd be a lot more successful,' Gee said.

Over a period of months, deputies bought the illegal or stolen guns and some drugs. Deputies also recovered nearly $2 million in stolen cars, trucks, motorcycles, electronics and watercraft.

'This was the biggest sting of its kind in the county in 19 years,' Gee said.

Deputies wrapped up the operation two weeks ago after they obtained arrest warrants and were ready to begin rounding up suspects, spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

The sheriff's office spent $96,694 in buying the stolen property and intends to seek restitution through the court system by asking for each defendant's sentence to require that they repay the money they received from the sale of the stolen items.

Most of the guns are thought to have been stolen in burglaries and purchased on the streets. Each weapon will be examined through ballistics testing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to see whether it has been used in a crime.

'This was a very dangerous operation,' Gee said. 'They were dealing with convicted, violent felons with guns stuck down their pants.'

One suspect told detectives the two assault rifles he was selling were stolen from a Pasco County deputy's patrol car the night before, Gee said. Another 24 were determined to have been among the 52 stolen in one Tampa burglary.

'This is clearly the tip of the iceberg,' Gee said.

A public viewing is planned so burglary victims can examine the weapons and make claims on them, Gee said. Owners will be required to present a case number from when they reported the weapons stolen.

One of the masked detectives said the operation will end up saving lives.

'It was a good feeling to get the guns off the street because these guns will not be used to kill another law enforcement officer or a resident,' he said.

The youngest suspect was 16 and most of the guns were loaded, he said.

Gee said he was pleased with the outcome.

'Who knows, maybe we'll do it again,' he said.

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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