Lochiel Raymond Brown charged with trafficking firearms, impersonating police officer, selling firearm to prohibited person charges
A Bagdad man has been hit with almost 100 charges after he was allegedly found with dozens of unregistered guns, kilos of propellant powder, body armour, and even a Tasmania Police uniform. LATEST from court >>
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A Bagdad man has been hit with almost 100 firearms offences after he was allegedly found with dozens of unregistered guns, kilos of propellant powder, body armour and even a Tasmania Police uniform.
Lochiel Raymond Brown, 63, is yet to enter pleas to the more than 96 charges levelled against him.
His charges include various firearms-related offences which include trafficking in firearms, possession of stolen firearms, and 16 counts of possessing unregistered firearms.
Court documents show the alleged offending spanned dates between July 2022 and December 14.
He is also charged with five counts of impersonating a police officer, over the alleged possession of items including a container of Tasmania Police buttons, a black Tasmania Police jacket, a Tasmania Police cap, SAF-LOK handcuffs, three black helmets, two black vests and three ballistic plates.
The items also come under the charges of unlawful possession of property, and are alleged to be reasonably believed to be stolen or unlawfully obtained.
Brown, who the documents state is the holder of a firearms dealer licence, also faces 24 counts of dealer fail to label firearms – in which he is alleged to have failed to affix on each firearm, a label that shows the “entry number for that firearm as entered in your dealings record”.
He also faces 13 counts of failing to comply with conditions specified on a licence, seven counts of licenced firearm dealer fail to keep a record in an approved form of all dealings with firearms.
Multiple charges arise from the same December 14 date, including seven charges of failing to comply with prescribed storage of firearms.
Among those charges, it is alleged that 70 rifles were found with no electronic security device at the premises that was capable of detecting unauthorised entry, a Stevens model Little Scout in .22 calibre was found in a shed, and a Glock model 19 pistol in 9mm calibre was found in a shipping container.
It is further alleged that 100 rounds of .303 ammunition was found in a cupboard at the property, as well as a “number” of firearms magazines not appropriately stored.
Brown is also facing a count each of sending firearms, firearm parts or ammunition by mail and knowingly sell firearm to a person who was subject to a firearms prohibition order.
It is alleged in that case that Brown sent a Smith and Wesson model 10 revolver in .38 calibre to another person by mail, knowing that person was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
It is further alleged he was also in possession of silencers, 15 detachable magazines and storing 13kg of propellant powder.
Brown will appear in Hobart Magistrates Court again in July.
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