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February 28, 2008 - 2:04AM
ATF agents raid Gilbert gun shop
Comments | RecommendNick R. Martin, Tribune
Federal agents raided a Gilbert gun store on Wednesday, seizing hundreds of high-powered and military-style weapons in the process, though authorities were silent as to why.
VIDEO: ATF officials seize rifles and artillery in Gilbert
Dozens of guns could be seen being organized and moved by agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives during the afternoon outside the Cavalry Arms Corp. near Cooper and Guadalupe roads.
ATF agents spent hours executing a federal search warrant there, but agency spokesman Thomas Mangan declined to say what prompted the seizure of what he called a “large quantity” of weapons.
“By no means is that any indication of any type of guilt,” Mangan said.
Still, every gun that was at the business on Wednesday was confiscated in the raid, he said.
The Arizona Corporation Commission lists no business under the name “Cavalry Arms,” but it does list what may be a typographical error of “Calvary Arms Corporation” at the same address, 723 W. Commerce Ave.
The firm’s name is listed correctly at that address in local telephone directories.
That business is owned by Shawn M. Nealon of Mesa, ACC records show. Nealon could not be reached for comment.
Mangan declined to say whether anyone had been arrested and referred all questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Phoenix. A spokeswoman there declined to comment.
Cavalry Arms’ Web site shows the company specializes in customizing and modifying weapons such as AR-15s.
It sells the guns to people participating in shooting sports, as well as military and police personnel, the site states.
In an article in SWAT magazine in 2004, Nealon said he came up with the idea of some of the modified weapons while serving in the Army during Operation Desert Storm.
The seizure Wednesday was the second time in about two months federal agents impounded a large number of weapons in Gilbert. On Dec. 29, ATF uncovered a cache of wall-to-wall guns in the storage locker of a man suspected of threatening police. He was arrested, and about 80 guns in all were seized.
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