WICHITA, KAN. - A former chief of the Bel Aire Police Department and a former officer were indicted Tuesday on federal firearms charges. The indictment alleges they conspired to buy firearms at a discount by claiming the weapons were the property of the police department and would be used for law enforcement purposes, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Former police chief John R. Daily, 62, Haysville, Kan., and Ricky L. Swanson, 39, Wichita, are the third and fourth defendants charged in the case. Both of them are charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud.
The indictment alleges Daily, who was chief from May 2006 to December 2013, signed paperwork for the purchase of three Sig Sauer Model 716 Patrol, 7.62 mm rifles, falsely stating that the military style weapons were being purchased for use by the police department and would not be sold. In fact, the rifles were not approved for officers to carry on duty. By misrepresenting the rifles as police department property, the defendants were able to take advantage of special pricing and tax exemptions.
The indictment alleges Swanson, who worked as an officer from November 2006 to December 2013, ignored an interim police chief’s directions to cancel the order. Instead he directed two of the rifles to be delivered to another location so he could take possession. He kept one of the rifles and sold the other one.
Also charged in the case are Nathan A. Mavia, 26, Wichita, Kan., and Robert McCaslin, 41, Wichita, Kan.
If convicted, Daily and Swanson face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett is prosecuting.
OTHER FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Byron Cadavid, 30, Goddard, Kan., Robby Alan Murphy, 34, Wichita, Kan., and Norma Garcia-Cadavid, 30, Wichita, Kan., are charged with a firearm violation. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 9, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. David Lind is prosecuting.
Ronald B. Zolman, 49, Little River, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances and one count of growing marijuana plants. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 9, 2015, in Lyons, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge; and a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million on the drug charge. The Rice County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.
Gerardo Ramirez-Cigala, 47, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found April 20, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Mauro Humberto Sanchez-Vasquez, 36, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found April 18, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Juan Salzar-Alvarenga, 30, a citizen of El Salvador, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported, and one count of transporting another unlawful alien within the United States. The crimes are alleged to have occurred April 22, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the transportation charge, and a maximum penalty of two years and a fine up to $250,000 on the other count. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Jorge Alberto Rodriguez-Vargas, 27, a citizen of Honduras, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found April 22, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
