Brothers' Illegal Ammo Importation Scheme Exposed: A Case of Deception and Consequences
Two California brothers are facing potential prison time for attempting to illegally import nearly half-a-million armor-piercing rounds into the U.S. The brothers, Jacob and Darin Dowd, who operated a gun dealership in Vacaville, California, submitted an application to import the ammunition from an arms company in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The application falsely claimed that the ammunition was for law enforcement sales, with a purchase order from a small-town police chief in Wisconsin.
The police chief, James Bushey, allegedly agreed to sign a fake purchase order in exchange for money from the Dowd brothers. The plan was to use the fraudulent order to import the ammunition under the guise of it being for the police department. However, investigators intervened and stopped the importation, as the police department had no intention or need for such a large quantity of ammunition.
Darin Dowd has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, while Jacob Dowd is set to plead guilty in May. Both brothers could face up to five years in federal prison for their involvement in the scheme. Bushey, the former police chief, has not been charged in connection with the case, and his current whereabouts are unknown.
The town board in Wisconsin approved the deal based on false information provided by Bushey, who failed to disclose his financial incentives in the scheme. The investigation into the illegal importation is ongoing, with authorities declining to comment on Bushey's potential involvement or status. The case highlights the consequences of attempting to circumvent laws for personal gain and the importance of upholding integrity in law enforcement.