An Evergreen man with a history in reality television surrendered to authorities on Thursday on federal criminal charges of illegally selling firearms and failing to report more than $1.1 million in in income to the Internal Revenue Service.
Richard Wyatt, 52, operated the Wheat Ridge gun store Gunsmoke, but surrendered his federal firearms license for that store in 2012 due to violations of federal laws and regulations, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver.
Wyatt’s attorney said the case is politically motivated.
“If you look at the conduct of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms over the course of the last eight years, you will find that there have been political as well as criminal prosecutions,” said Thomas Miller, one of the lawyers representing Wyatt. “I would say that the political bent of Washington is more behind this than it should be. I truly believe that this is driven by political winds.”
Wyatt appeared on the reality television series “American Guns” on the Discovery Channel from 2011 through 2012, prior to surrendering his license.
After that, Wyatt continued to operate Gunsmoke by funneling the purchases of his customers through another store that held a federal firearms license, according to a grand jury indictment returned Tuesday.
He allegedly directed Gunsmoke employees to enter firearm sales in Gunsmoke’s computer
system as “miscellaneous” sales.
After receiving payment for firearms, Gunsmoke employees sent customers to another firearms store, where customers then filled out background check paperwork, the indictment alleges. Customers also received their guns at the other store, according to prosecutors.
Wyatt failed to pay personal income tax on $1.1 million he made during the years of 2009, 2010 and 2012, the indictment further alleges. He also is accused of failing to pay corporate taxes in 2010 through 2012.
He faces an asset forfeiture claim, which seeks forfeiture to the government of firearms and ammunition and perhaps other property used in the commission of his alleged crimes. Other charges against Wyatt include conspiracy, dealing in firearms without a license, filing a false tax return and failure to file a tax return.
Wyatt was advised of the charges in federal court Thursday. He was ordered held without bond pending a hearing on Tuesday.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747, cosher@denverpost.com or @chrisosher
