Pleasanton man sentenced in Kansas gun shop case
A Kansas federal judge sentenced a Pleasanton, Kan., man Monday to 41 months in prison for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.
The sentencing of Jeffrey Nicholas, 48, wrapped up an odd case in which a former Linn County sheriff employed a felon to sell firearms from his pawn shop, even after federal agents told him not to.
Barry Walker, who was the Linn County sheriff when he received the warnings, was sentenced in December to 15 months in prison.
The investigation opened in November 2011 when inspectors from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives noticed that Nicholas, who has a 2000 felony drug conviction from Nevada, was selling firearms at Walker’s Big Bear’s Gifts & Pawn Shop in Pleasanton.
Agents warned Walker that Nicholas could not legally handle or possess firearms, according to court records, and Walker agreed to block any further access Nicholas had to the guns and ammunition.
Still, on follow-up visits in 2013, undercover officers purchased firearms from Nicholas. Other evidence showed that while Nicholas would sell the firearms, he would leave the paperwork for Walker to sign.
Walker served as Linn County sheriff from 2008 through 2012.
To reach Mark Morris, call 816-234-4310 or send email to mmorris@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published February 9, 2015 at 1:42 PM with the headline "Pleasanton man sentenced in Kansas gun shop case."