Guns
Rich Wyatt Prison Sentence – Convicted On 10 Counts
A Fall From Grace – Rich Wyatt In Prison
Is Rich Wyatt Prison Bound?
Convicted on 10 of 13 counts, a Rich Wyatt prison sentence is likely and pending. He awaits sentencing on July 19, 2017, by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Marcia S. Krieger.
Sentence Update March 8, 2018: Richard Wyatt received a 6 1/2 year prison sentence, and 490 previously seized firearms were ordered forfeited. To read the full sentencing update scroll down to the bottom of the page, or click here.
Update January 18, 2018: Once again Rich has been given a continuance. The sentencing hearing has been continued again and is now scheduled for March 8, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Marcia S. Krieger.
Update November 1, 2017: Richard Wyatt’s sentencing hearing has been reset, perhaps for the last time, to January 18, 2018 at 09:00 AM in Courtroom A 901, at the Alfred A. Arraj Federal Courthouse in Denver, Chief Judge Marcia S. Krieger presiding. It had been tentatively set for December 19, 2017 but that date was vacated by the judge. I would imagine that there won’t be many more delays before Wyatt is finally sentenced. Stay tuned.
Update September 22, 2017: Wyatt’s new attorney has yet to inform the court as to when they’ll be properly prepared to represent him during the sentencing hearing. It’s a delay tactic most likely. I’ve been told that it’s highly likely that a date will be set in October, meaning Wyatt’s sentencing date will be scheduled in October, for a later date, perhaps November or December even. I’ll update here as soon that occurs.
Update August 10, 2017: Rich fired his attorney (who had apparently requested to withdraw as counsel anyway) and so the judge will give new counsel some time to become familiar with the case specifics before proceeding with sentencing. The judge will likely schedule a new hearing within a week or two and when that happens I’ll update here.
Update July 20, 2017: I was in contact with the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado, and was told that on June 27, 2017, Chief Judge Marcia Krieger reset Wyatt’s sentencing date. It’s currently scheduled for August 10, 2017 at 9:00 a.m.. However, on July 10, 2017, Wyatt’s attorney asked to withdraw as counsel, so that could change the sentencing hearing date yet again.
Rich Wyatt was found guilty on March 10, 2017 of 10 federal charges- one count of conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license and 9 various tax charges. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
The jury, which deliberated for 5 days, was hung on 3 other charges related to importing illegal weapons.
Rich Wyatt lost his Federal Firearms License (FFL) in April, 2012 (yes, in the middle of Discovery’s American Guns television series) due to violations of federal laws and regulations. But he continued to operate his gun store and sell firearms under a straw license belonging to someone else.
After he surrendered his FFL, Wyatt was found to have changed the address for Triggers Firearms LLC’s (Triggers) FFL to that of Gunsmoke, so that he could continue to sell firearms out of his store. Bottom line, Triggers was acting as a straw licensee for Gunsmoke without having lawfully transferred ownership of the firearms later sold under the scheme.
The Rich Wyatt trial will likely have the positive effect of forcing gun shops and those in the industry to tighten things up a bit, which is good for those of us who love guns because this negative attention only fuels the fires of rabid progressives.
Then there’s the tax issue. According to the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado, Wyatt failed to pay personal income tax in years 2009, when he made approximately $290,000, in 2010, when he made approximately $123,000, and in 2012, when he made approximately $689,000.
Further, in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Wyatt failed to pay corporate taxes. In 2012, Wyatt willfully filed a tax return he knew to be false, stating that he lost money, when in fact he made at least $350,000 that he failed to disclose.
Related to these charges, back in 2013 agents executed a Search Warrant on Wyatt’s Gunsmoke Shop and that event created a lot attention. You can see a copy of that affidavit at the bottom of this article. Here’s a news report of agents searching Gunsmoke.
That’s a whole lot of bad! Who is Rich Wyatt any way?
You know him as the front man of American Guns and the amped-up owner of Gunsmoke Guns in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, which is a bustling suburb of Denver.
Rich Wyatt American Guns Reality T.V. – Gunsmoke Gunshop
American Guns was the popular Discovery TV reality show which aired for two seasons in 2011 and 2012 before Discovery bowed to liberal pressures and cancelled the show.
Rich’s somewhat ‘high and tight’ haircut gives an enduring ‘clean cut and honest’ impression and his fast-talking, in-your-face mannerism makes him seem like half award-winning salesman and half professor.
The headline “Rich Wyatt Arrested” was seen virtually around the globe as Wyatt turned himself in to law enforcement on Thursday, February 11, 2016, related to these latest charges for which he was convicted.
Rich Wyatt Today
To understand Rich Wyatt today we should go back almost 2 decades to see the somewhat troubled path that led to his current, self-inflicted predicament.
According to his own LinkedIn profile, Rich Wyatt had relocated to Colorado back in 1981 so that he could attend Gunsmithing School.
Rich Wyatt says in his profile that he first attended Jeff Coopers Orange Gunsite Ranch in 1987 and after instructing with Col. Jeff Cooper for several years was certified as one of only six Master Instructors by the Col.
Rich claims he is also certified by the NRA, the P.O.S.T. board and the FBI. His profile continues that he is “certified by most major manufactures of firearms as an armorer. He has taught thousands of student in both law enforcement and the private sector. He also had the honor of traveling and hunting Africa with Col. Jeff Cooper. Rich is also the host of Spike TV’s Don’t be a Victim series Practical Tactical.”
Rich Wyatt has always had flair for the dramatic. In 2002, Wyatt bought an ad in Soldier of Fortune magazine offering a $100,000 reward to anybody who killed Osama bin Laden with one of his Gunsmoke rifles.
However, few people know that Wyatt also ran for Jefferson County Sheriff in 2002 (Golden, Colorado is the county seat and it’s a Denver suburb). He was unsuccessful, coming in second place in the County Assembly to Russ Cook, so he didn’t even make it to the Primary.
Not being one to shy away from the limelight or to “not win”, Rich Wyatt filed a lawsuit against his opponent. The lawsuit was dismissed and Sheriff Cook went on to win the election. Though in a bit of unrelated irony Sheriff Cook would resign 6 months after taking office in 2003, admitting that he was an alcoholic and needed help.
Rich says that he has 22 years in law enforcement and 25 years experience in firearms training. He claims to have “retired” as Chief of Police in Alma, Colorado.
However, the city of Alma disagrees and claims that he was fired in 2005. In a lawsuit filed in Park County, Colorado on May 23, 2013, in an attempt to get back the badge and credentials, the City of Alma claims that Wyatt was asked to turn his badge and city property in but he refused:
“Wyatt, who was fired in 2005, held on to his badge after his termination even though he had been asked to turn in all town property he possessed.“
That doesn’t at all sound like someone who “retired” and who left on good terms.
Apparently this suit was filed so many years later because Wyatt had used the credentials to get entry into a government event. More specifically,
“Wyatt used the credentials to get into the Colorado State Capitol building in March [2013] to participate in discussions regarding pending gun legislation. He allegedly represented himself as a retired Chief of Police and then presented his badge.”
Rich Wyatt Divorce
On February 02, 2005 Rich Wyatt was arrested by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Team, without incident, at Wyatt’s Gunsmoke shop. The arrest stemmed from Contempt of Court charges related to his 2002 divorce from ex-wife Rebecca Wyatt.
The two were divorced in 2002 and the judge in that settlement ordered Rich to pay his ex-wife $4,100 a month and to surrender to her two firearms. Rich was granted ownership of two parcels of real estate.
Rich Wyatt of Gunsmoke Guns
Rich being Rich, he didn’t pay the court-ordered money nor did he surrender the two firearms. Landing back in court he told the judge that he couldn’t afford the payments, which is when the ex-wife’s council provided bank statements showing otherwise.
The 2005 incident was a continuation of the 2002 divorce settlement and his ex-wife’s attempt to get the money and firearms, and something else… the Judge in the divorce case ordered Wyatt to return 100 nude photos of Rebecca.
Wyatt allegedly returned some of the photos but only after marking them up with lewd comments and remarks. Having enough the judge ordered his arrest for contempt. The ex-wife’s attorney, George Johnson, somewhat prophetically called Wyatt a ‘scofflaw’.
It’s not clear right now whether or nor Wyatt was still the Chief of Police at the time of his arrest, and perhaps it was the arrest itself that led to his dismissal, but the divorce almost certainly played a role.
Meet The Wyatt Family @ American Guns
Check Out The Family
Rich and Renee married sometime late 2005 or early 2006 and well before American Guns aired on The Discovery Channel. The children on the show, Paige and Curt, are not Rich’s biological children though they now bear his name.
It’s uncertain if they’re legally adopted by Rich or if the name usage was for TV only, though both still use the name Wyatt publicly. They were both born with their father’s last name, Grewcock.
Rich and Renee do have two biological children together, Brooke was born in 2006 and Ginger was born in 2009.
Rich was always one to find an opportunity, call it hard work or hustle. In 2011 he landed the Discovery gig and the show shot off with a lot of popularity. Season 2 was even more popular before the Sandy Hook shooting gave progressives another reason to wet themselves. Discovery bowed to the loud-mouthed pressure of the minority liberal fringe and canceled the show.
It’s unclear what will happen to the Gunsmoke and/or American Guns brand, but hopefully Renee and the kids pick up the pieces of Rich’s shenanigans and make the most of it. People seemed to be interested in their characters, given the reality-loving nature of us Americans.
The Wyatts – Paige, Rich, Renee and Curt
The End Of An Era
Rich had a tumultuous life and climbed from obscurity to semi-fame, only to lose himself to greed and arrogance. Where it not for his defenseless decisions he could’ve rode off into the sunset, a millionaire and famous.
Where is Rich Wyatt now? Sitting in a jail cell somewhere in the Rockies waiting until July so that he can find out his fate. While it’s unlikely that he’ll serve a full 15 year sentence, it seems almost certain that he’ll be a full-time prison inmate soon.
Sentencing Review from March 8, 2018
Along with Richard’s 6 1/2 year prison sentence, he’ll be on supervised parole for another 3 years after he’s released. Of course 490 of the weapons that had been seized by the feds were ordered forfeited since they had been used in the commission of his crimes.
And then there’s the matter of fines and penalties for the Tax Evasion portion of his conviction, and those will be determined at hearing at some point in the future; I imagine they’ll be significant. His back taxes exceed $500,000 for 2009 – 2012, so yea, he’s in deep.
Here’s what U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer had to say about Wyatt.
A man has to make a choice, and Wyatt chose wrong. Unless your ambition is to serve a long sentence in prison, selling guns illegally and cheating on your taxes are going to be bad choices. Click To Tweet
As I had previously reported, Gunsmoke was using a straw license to sell guns. That is, they would have customers go to the other business (Triggers, a store in Castle Rock, Colorado) for the background check and paperwork, but the customer paid Gunsmoke.
And Wyatt was purposely covering up his shenanigans. Here’s more specific details that I’ve learned about the cover up.
Without a federal firearms license, Wyatt ran his business by directing Gunsmoke employees to enter firearm sales in Gunsmoke’s computer point of sales software system as “miscellaneous” sales rather than firearm sales.
Wyatt’s attorney had pleaded with the court to deliver a maximum sentence of 2 1/2 years, citing Wyatt’s loss of his 2nd Amendment rights as “severe as could be imagined aside from incarceration.” As you know a felony conviction causes a person to forfeit certain rights, which is a matter for discussion in and of itself.
In another failed attempt to gain leniency, Wyatt’s attorney referenced his client’s law enforcement background in order to paint some shade of favorable character… it failed miserably.
Both the U.S. attorneys and Chief Judge Krieger agreed that his being a former law enforcement officer only made Wyatt’s actions worse because it highlighted his blatant and willful disregard for the law.
Wyatt apologized to his family, friends and community for the damage and suffering he caused them. He went on to say:
“But I got in a little bit over my head. The pressure of it. The places I got to go and the people I got to meet … I drank the Kool-Aid and I thought I was special.”
The Denver Post’s Elizabeth Hernandez reports that when asked by the judge what he felt he did wrong, Wyatt answered “I didn’t do the paperwork, I didn’t pay my fair share.”
When Chief Judge Krieger was handing down her sentence, she cited Wyatt’s statement as evidence of his not fully understanding what he did wrong or how serious his crimes were. The Judge went on to say that Wyatt appeared to be only remorseful for his situation and not for his bad choices.
With Wyatt’s felony conviction comes the end of his firearms ownership and thereby any chance he had at resurrecting the Gunsmoke era. As of this writing he’s being held at the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City as he waits for his final prison transfer.
Do you think the charges were too much or not enough, and do you think he ought to serve jail time for those crimes? What do you think about Rich Wyatt? Let me know in the comments.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/pr/gunsmoke-gun-shop-owner-sentenced-78-months-conspiracy-and-tax-fraud
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/03/08/discovery-channel-richard-wyatt-weapons-dealing-license/
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/03/03/richard-wyatt-gunsmoke-gun-show-trial/
https://www.atf.gov/news/pr/jury-finds-gunsmoke-gun-shop-owner-richard-wyatt-guilty-most-charges
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wyatt_Family_(American_Guns)
http://www.theflume.com/news/article_e9876512-cfbd-11e2-bb96-001a4bcf6878.html
https://www.ar-15.co/archive/index.php/t-106321.html
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/interesting-lawsuit.124906/
http://www.westword.com/news/american-guns-reality-tv-star-rich-wyatt-indicted-for-conspiracy-and-more-7602582
The new TRS Comp pistol from Nighthawk Custom is a full-sized, government frame 9mm double stack built around a match grade barrel and a monolithic slide. It’s built to compete and starts at $4,599.
The TRS Comp comes standard with a recon rail under the barrel and a dimpled rear cocking design that offers ample traction when racking the slide. It also sports unique dimpled frame and slide textures that match the grip pattern.
Integrated Compensator
The TRS Comp is Nighthawk Custom’s first full-size pistol designed around a double stack frame. It features a 17+1 capacity and incorporates Nighthawk’s Fire Hawk compensator, which boasts a precision-designed port that reduces muzzle flip for quicker follow up shots.
This model also features a unique dimpling texture found throughout the slide and grip, which provides ample grip while being snag-free during holstering. The TRS Comp uses a 14K gold bead front sight that does an excellent job catching light, coupled with a Heinie Ledge Black rear sight for quick target acquisition.
The pistol also features Nighthawk Customs’ Interchangeable Optic System (IOS), which is a dedicated dovetail machined onto the slide and allows for optic mounting with adapters. This system allows for an interchangeable series of sight options to quickly switch rear sights in a matter of seconds.
Interchangeable Optic System
Nighthawk Custom’s Interchangeable Optic System allows a user to switch from a plate with a traditional rear sight to a red-dot optic in seconds. This feature is especially beneficial for concealed-carry practitioners who want to train with a red-dot but still carry a traditional rear sight.
Nighthawk’s unique IOS system involves milling the top rear section of their slide to interface with an interchangeable series of sight options, including a Trijicon RMR and other red-dot sights. This low-profile system also incorporates a suppressor-height rear sight as a backup to the optic’s front sight.
The TRS Comp features a match grade 5.00′′ barrel on a government sized frame with a monolithic slide, a full-length dust cover and an integrated single-port compensator. This combination reduces muzzle flip and delivers faster follow-up shots on the range, a must-have for competitive shooters.
The TRS Comp is finished in black nitride for a sleek, durable look. The lightweight aluminum trigger possesses a serrated flat face and a gold bead front sight does an excellent job catching light, providing quick target acquisition. A Heinie Ledge Black rear sight completes the package.
Match Grade Barrel
One of the most important features of any match pistol is a properly fitted barrel. A true match grade barrel will have zero play in the muzzle or at the hood, and it should glide into battery smoothly without any drag or snag on the slide.
This is achieved by carefully fitting the barrel to all of the chamber hood contact surfaces and the lower locking lug. Once this is done it will have a true target fit and shoot groups that rival a 1911 handgun.
The TRS Comp is the first Nighthawk Custom model to be designed around a double stack frame, offering 17+1 capacity and using their integrated compensator, the fire hawk. The compensator has a precision port that reduces muzzle flip and helps shooters stay on target for follow up shots.
Unique Dimpled Texture
The TRS Comp is the newest addition to Nighthawk’s line up. It is a high-end double stack 1911 that packs a 17+1 punch, as well as a lot of style and class. It also happens to be the most accurate and durable gun in its caliber. It also comes in a variety of colors and finishes, from matte black to high-shine chromium. Its crown jewel is the aforementioned patented integrated compensator, which may be the best thing to happen to your sidearm in years. It is a real head turner, especially for those who don’t usually opt for the sexy gun. The aforementioned gizmo is accompanied by a precision designed port in the rear of the slide that reduces muzzle flip without sacrificing a hefty amount of power. The aforementioned gizmo features a matching name badge aft of the slide, as well as a match-grade 5″ barrel and a full-length dust cover with accompanying nifty-fun accessory rail.
The PC Charger is a pistol chambered in 9mm, and it can take Glock magazines. It is very popular and has become more of a sought-after gun than the original carbine.
Many owners of the PC Charger equip it with a brace to give it stability. This makes it a lot more shootable.
Ruger PC Charger
Ruger’s PC Charger is a pistol-caliber carbine (PCC) that combines the fun and utility of an AR style pistol with the reliability and accuracy of a high capacity AR. Designed to take both Ruger Security 9 and Glock magazines, the PC Charger is a highly customizable weapon that makes a great range gun or home defense tool.
Adding a brace to the PC Charger increases its stability and makes it more shootable. The brace can be attached to the MIL STD 1913 rail on the back of the pistol.
The SB Tactical FS1913 Brace is one of the best PC Charger braces available today. It is made of a polymer material that offers quick deployment and a lightweight profile.
This brace is perfect for a shooter who is new to pistol braces, and is looking for a compact and inexpensive option. It is also a good choice for people who are already familiar with the design and use of a buffer tube.
AGP Arms
The AGP Arms brace kit for the Ruger PC Charger is the best way to upgrade the standard stock and barrel. The brace is the logical extension of AGP’s acclaimed pistol grip Gen 2 stock and handguard, allowing users to customize their pc charger to their own specifications. The brace is the brainchild of a dedicated team of military and law enforcement personnel, many of whom have been in the trenches for longer than most of us will ever know. Featuring a modern twist on a classic design, the brace is an understated delight. Its most prominent feature is a cleverly engineered gearbox that enables the user to rotate the entire gun by hand, and then lock it into place using a single pin. The aforementioned pin is mounted in the rear of the gun, where it is tucked under a protective cover for safekeeping. In keeping with the aforementioned design, the brace is also anodized black for a look you can be proud of.
SB Tactical
SB Tactical is the inventor of pistol stabilizing braces. They were started in 2012 by Army veteran Alex Bosco after he designed a brace for his disabled friend so he could continue to shoot.
SB Tactical was the first to introduce adjustable pistol stabilizing braces. This was a big win for the industry and gun owners alike.
After getting pre approval from the ATF, they began selling pistol braces for AR/AK style firearms, CZ Scorpions, H&K MP5 designs, 1913 rails, and more.
The SBA3 is one of the best pistol braces on the market and offers 5-position adjustable adjustment, ambidextrous QD sling attachment points, and a Velcro strap to connect to your arm for one-handed shooting.
The SBA4 is another great choice and offers a sturdy M4-style strut, 5-position adjustable, and an integral QD sling socket. This is an excellent option for a Ruger PC Charger gun with a Glock drum, but it also works well on any pistol without a buffer tube.
Midwest Industries
Midwest Industries is a family owned and operated company that manufactures quality parts, uppers, lowers, rails, barrels, furniture and muzzle devices for AR platforms and many other firearms. They also have a number of innovative products and services that make them a great choice for those looking to upgrade their firearms.
Probably the most useful item that they manufacture is their Combat Rail Handguard in hard coat anodized 6061 aluminum. It features eight functional M-LOK slots and two anti-rotation sling swivels. Its hefty price tag might be a turn off, but its high performance and robust construction is well worth the outlay.
What you might not have known is that they also make the pc charger brace aka the FS1913. Basically the same as the name aforementioned but a lot more durable and the brace actually folds to a compact size for easy transport. They even include a nice looking sling with an integrated bottle opener to boot.
Mini Mamba is a famous YouTube Star who has earned a fortune as a professional. He has a net worth of $1-5 Million at the age of 11 years old.
Mambas are venomous snakes of the family Elapidae, which also includes coral snakes and cobras. They live throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Black mamba
Black mambas are venomous snakes that are found in Africa. They can grow to up to 14 feet in length and are one of the longest venomous snakes in the world.
They are very fast and aggressive, and their venom is particularly deadly for humans. It takes only about 20 minutes for a bite from a black mamba to kill a person.
They live in grassland, savanna and rocky slopes of southern and eastern Africa. They are primarily diurnal and prey on small rodents. They have excellent vision and a highly developed sense of smell.
Green mamba
Green mambas are found in coastal areas of eastern Africa including Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa. These snakes are venomous, which makes them extremely dangerous to humans.
They are a diurnal species, which means they are active during the day. They also spend a great deal of time in the trees and rainforests of western Africa, where they live amongst the forest canopy and thickets.
This snake preys on birds, lizards and small mammals. Its venom isn’t as powerful as the venom of the black mamba or the red mamba, but it can still kill.
Green mambas breed during the rainy season. Females lay eggs, which hatch in about 10-12 weeks. Males seek out and compete for females by following a scent trail or by wrestling or dancing. These combats aren’t biting, but rather a way for the two snakes to establish dominance over each other.
Red mamba
The red mamba is a species of snake that lives in Africa. It is related to the black mamba and can be found in various countries throughout the continent.
It is a medium-sized snake that can grow to be 2 m long. They are mainly found in tree hollows and termite mounds.
They are very venomous and kill their prey quickly. Their venom is highly toxic and can affect the breathing, heart and muscle function of the victim.
They can also paralyze their prey, which they then swallow. They feed primarily on birds and small mammals.
Yellow mamba
The mamba is an African snake. There are four species: black mamba, green mamba, red mamba and yellow mamba.
The Eastern green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps), formerly known as the white-mouthed mamba, is a venomous snake that lives in coastal regions of East Africa. It is found from Kenya south through Tanzania, Malawi, and eastern Zambia.
The eastern green mamba is a shy snake that avoids humans when possible and only strikes if provoked or cornered. Its habitat is fragmented in parts of its range and it is listed as Vulnerable by South Africa due to habitat destruction and deforestation.
Blue mamba
Mambas are notorious for their speed and aggression, and they come in a wide variety of species. They are a common sight in Africa’s rainforests, and all have deadly venom.
Of the four types of mambas, the most venomous and dangerous is the black mamba. Known for its lightning-fast speed, erratic behavior, and painful bite, it can strike multiple times in a matter of seconds.
Its venom is highly neurotoxic and cardiotoxic, with fasciculins present to paralyze the muscles of a bite victim. The venom can kill a victim within hours of a bite.
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