Federal Firearms Licensees Plead Guilty To Conspiracy To Defraud The United States

DENVER - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announces the two co-owners of Modern Arms & Optics LLC, a federal firearms licensee that operated from 2019 to 2023 pled guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States. On July 25, 2024, Campbell Slayden, 26, of Denver pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. On September 23, 2024, Anthony Gallegos, 26, of Denver pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

The plea agreements stemmed from the defendants' actions while dealing firearms on behalf of Modern Arms and Optics. In the course of conducting their business, Slayden and Gallegos engaged in deceptive acts to hide information, mislead, and avert further inquiry into their business from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) by concealing their unlawful firearms manufacturing practices in federally required records. Furthermore, the co-owners transferred firearms to people not legally allowed to own firearms through a practice often referred to as "straw purchasing."

"It is crucial for gun shop owners and dealers to follow the laws that help keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and keep our communities safe," said Acting United States Attorney Matt Kirsch. "We will vigorously prosecute anyone who breaks or evades those laws."

Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over both hearings. The case was investigated by ATF. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman handled the prosecution.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Case Numbers:

1:24-cr-0034-GPG (Slayden)

1:24-cr-00224-GPG (Gallegos)