Can you report a class III manufacturer for taking deposit and not delivering?

[KosherNRA]

Interesting question:

I've dealt with a manufacturer in Florida for a while on custom AK builds. He built a few awesome AKM Romy G builds on ARFCOM under the name KillerOne with 44+ feedback. Been there for about 4 years.

Took forever on my build but i got it.

so i asked if he could do a couple custom builds (basically an AKS? and 9" pistol build)....

so after some negotiation i sent him my ultimak for the rifle and ordered 2 JTAC comps for the builds....

that was AUGUST..he kept me pretty updated up until 12/01 when he stopped answering emails/phone calls

i have my MO stubs, phone numbers, address, name, and my old FFL has his FFL license with her, so i have his FFL # as well..

where do i begin with this? he has over $1000 of my money, and i want to press charges with dozens of time stamped emails to provide a timeline.

i just want my builds...he was JUST about to ship the pistol and was still working on the rifle...then disappeared.

anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Bovice]

Who is the manufacturer?

 

[P-32]

I had a match M-1 in 308 built one time. It took 16 months to return from the time I sent the rifle to the plummer. It was worth the wait.

It takes a top match AR builder 16 weeks to build a AR from order to delivery.

Bottom line is I bet your order is not the only one he has.

 

[oneounceload]

It IS Christmas time - perhaps he is taking a vacation??

 

[dprice3844444]

united states postal inspectors

 

[belercous]

Chillax. You knew he wasn't fast after the first gun, so you expect him to be fast now? I'll bet you're not his only customer. My gunsmith takes 6-9 months for even the simplest jobs because he has so much work. He does a great job & he's cheap, but he's not fast.

We used to have a sign in our shop (aircraft repair) saying "You can have it done fast, you can have it done right, or you can have it done cheap. Pick two."

The guy might not be answering your emails because it may seem to him like you're nagging (high-maintenance customer). We charged those customers extra & recommended Executive Beech (super-high $ shop that catered to those types).

No disrespect intended, just a thought.

 

[Bubbles]

Since you and the gunsmith are on ARFCOM I'd find someone on the FL HTF who could swing by his shop and see what's going on. I also searched on his ARFCOM username and found out that his last login was 12/5. So, it could be anything from he's taking some time off, to he died.

And unless he's been engaging in fraud at the same level as Ciener, the authorities will tell you it's a civil matter and you can sue in small claims court for your money.

 

[ilbob]

You can report him to the same consumer protection agency you would report any other seller who has not delivered on his promises and has your money. Best bet might be to call the CC company and let them deal with him.

 

[dprice3844444]

it's fraud and you need to contact https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/ trust me,when they show up at his door,things will happen.you could also call the local police dept in their city and file a complaint with them.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams read here and file claims accordingly,then postal inspectors

 

[medalguy]

Did you get anything in writing-- any kind of agreement on exactly what he was going to do for you, what it would cost, and any estimate of a time frame? Absent these you will have a very difficult time filing any kind of complaint or a civil suit. You said he has finished one of the guns, and that's pretty good for 4 months.

Say you go to the Postal Inspectors. What are you going to tell them? "Well this guy was going to build me a custom rifle, and the last one he did for me took a year (or whatever) but I sent him another bunch of money without any kind of time frame from him, and now he's finished one of the guns already, but it's been 4 months and I want to file theft/fraud charges." Are you serious? You need to at least get someone in the area to contact the guy and see if they can get any information. Or keep trying to call him on the telephone and see what's up.

 

[dprice3844444]

call his lcal pd and have them do a welfare check

 

[snubbies]

Welfare Check

Depending on the department they may not do a check since you are not related to the subject. If the people on this forum knew who he is, where he is, they could do some investigation for you. Another option would be to contact a private investigator in his city. For a reasonable fee they could let you know if he is still in business

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

If he is in Florida, go to sunbiz.org and check the judgment liens. See if anyone has gotten a civil judgment against him. Florida deadbeats usually end up on the list sooner or later.

 

[mgkdrgn]

Took forever on my build but i got it.

And the reason you expected any difference the 2nd time you used him was ...

Life lesson ... don't reward bad service with more of your business.

 

[LegalAlien]

under the name KillerOne

http://www.floridashootersnetwork.com/more-trouble-out-homestead-killerone-part-deux-t97104.html?hilit=killerone

Well-known character on our local forum "Florida Shooters Network".

I am sorry to say, but methinks you are screwed . . . . . .

ETA: Miguel Aguino is killerone.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/07/2 ... miami.html

Details released of men in Miami-Dade gun-running case
By Diana Moskovitz The Miami Herald

Investigators released the names of three men involved in a gun-running case that left one person dead and a massive traffic tie-up in south Miami-Dade.

Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Miami-Dade police were conducting an operation when authorities tried to pull over a white Chevrolet Avalanche Tuesday near Southwest 228th Street and 157th Avenue. Inside were two men, Gristoval Aviles, 31, and another man, Ricardo Aviles, 30.

The Avalanche hit a federal agent’s vehicle, a chase followed.

The chase ended when the truck rolled over near the intersection of U.S. 1 and Card Sound Road. At the scene of the crash, shots were fired by Miami-Dade police.

Both men inside the pickup were hit. Gristoval Aviles later died at Kendall Regional Medical Center.

Investigators found an AK-47 inside the truck.

Ricardo Aviles was expected to survive. He was taken into federal custody.

Federal agents were looking for Ricardo Aviles and a third man, Miguel Angel Aquino, 29, who were wanted on charges of illegal possessing and selling firearms, including assault rifles, according to a federal affidavit. Gristoval Aviles was not mentioned in the affidavit.

Ricardo Aviles and Aquino had been the subject of a federal investigation since October. Four times in October and November, a confidential source bought cocaine, assault rifles or both at meetings with Aviles, the affidavit said.

The rifles appeared to be supplied by Aquino, who was seen by federal authorities dropping off gun cases at the Aviles home before the guns transactions happened, the affidavit said.

On Tuesday, the confidential source went to Aquino’s home to buy an AK-47 and a kilogram of cocaine, the affidavit said. Agents said they saw Aviles travel to Aquino’s home and walk out with a long gun case, like those used for AK-47s.

Agents also searched inside Aquino’s home Tuesday and found multiple firearms, silencers, short-barrel rifles, machine gun converters and a suspected grenade launcher. All appeared to be unregistered. Aviles and Aquino are convicted felons. Aquino was later located and taken into federal custody.

The names of the officers involved in the shooting were not released Wednesday.

The family of Ricardo Aviles defended him Wednesday.