Bill Newell, special agent in charge of the ATF Phoenix, speaks behind a cache of seized weapons, Tuesday, Jan 25, 2011 in Phoenix. A grand jury has indicted 20 people on firearms charges for allegedly participating in a ring that bought more than 700 guns that were to be smuggled into Mexico for use by a drug cartel. (AP Photo/Matt York)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Prosecutors say the owner and operators of a Tennessee weapons manufacturer have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that they illegally exported firearms components to the United Kingdom.
The 21-count indictment was unsealed on Tuesday, charging five individuals at Sabre Defence Industries LLC, a Nashville-based weapons manufacturer. Sabre, whose highest-volume client is the U.S. military, makes M16 rifles and .50-caliber machine-gun barrels.
The indictment alleges that the five people were part of a conspiracy to illegally import and export firearms and components to and from the United States. They have been accused of violating the Arms Export Control Act.
Prosecutors say the owner of Sabre, 42-year-old Guy Savage, directed the illegal activities from his home in the United Kingdom and from a related company called Sabre Defence Industries LTD, a UK-based weapons manufacturer and importer also owned by Savage.
Prosecutors say Savage, a British citizen, was arrested Tuesday by London police based on a request for extradition by U.S. authorities.
According to the indictment, the illegal activities had been going on since at least 2003 and it cites several e-mails and shipping documents. Sabre officials were accused of smuggling on several occasions between 2003 and 2009 5.56 mm rifle assemblies, .223 Remington caliber rifle assemblies, AR-15 bolt catches and A-2 flash hiders, which require a license to export, the indictment says.
Also facing charges, according to the indictment, are Charles Shearon, 55, of Ashland City, who is the president of Sabre Defence Industries in Tennessee; Chief Financial Officer Elmer Hill, 64, of Brentwood; Director of Sales Michael Curlett, 44, of Hermitage; and Arnold see Jr., 54, of Antioch, who is the international shipping and purchasing manager.
The four in Tennessee will be issued summons to appear in federal court, prosecutors said.
No one answered a call by the associated Press seeking comment at Sabre’s Nashville office.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched the company’s facility last February.
“Today, two countries and countless neighborhoods, both foreign and domestic, are much better off,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Glenn Anderson in a news release.