A Kansas firearms distributor was indicted on federal charges of paying more than $1 million in bribes and kickbacks to two executives of the maker of Glock pistols, the FBI said.
John Sullivan Ralph, III, the owner of Kansas-based Global Guns & Hunting Inc., was charged last week with one count of conspiracy, 11 counts of wire fraud, and 10 counts of money laundering.
Also indicted on the same charges were two Glock executives and their wives.
The indictment named James “Craig” Dutton, the assistant national sales manager for Smyrna, Ga.-based Glock, and Welcome D. “Bo” Wood, Jr., Glock’s eastern regional manager.
Dutton’s wife Lisa formed a company called Supreme Solutions, LLC. Wood’s wife Paula formed a company called Tropical Marketing & Consulting, LLC.
Both women are alleged to have concealed payments of bribes and kickbacks through the companies.
According to the indictment, Ralph bribed the Glock executives in exchange for preferential treatment over other firearms distributors.
The DOJ said he received equipment and software from the defendants that allowed him to sell firearms intended for the discounted law enforcement market as premium-priced firearms for commercial sales.
According to the FBI, a conspiracy conviction carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
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Julie DiMauro is the executive editor of FCPA Blog and can be reached here.
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