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Search Warrant Served At Gun Shop In Investigation; Officials Seek More Info
March 20, 2022
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is asking the public for information about an Escambia County gun shop after a search warrant was served there on Friday.
NorthEscambia.com was the only media there as local, state and federal authorities executed a search warrant Friday at Don’s Gun Shop at 9413 North Palafox Street, just north of Nine Mile Road. On Friday, FDLE confirmed they were involved in serving the search warrant.
On Saturday, the agency said they have received “multiple citizen complaints” about the gun shop. FDLE said they are investigating the allegations in a joint investigation with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). No further information about the “complaints” has been released.
“We believe members of the public may have additional information that could aid in our investigation,” FDLE said, asking for the public to submit any tips by calling their Pensacola office at (850) 595-2100.
A sign on the front door of the business on Saturday stated, “Closed. If your gun was here, please call the number on the card below. Sorry for the inconvenience.” That number is FDLE Special Agent Chelsea Atzel at (850) 595-2012 or cell (850) 378-6746.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Comments
35 Responses to “Search Warrant Served At Gun Shop In Investigation; Officials Seek More Info”
Is there anybody other than Chelsea to call if you have guns there? Maybe somebody that you can talk to.Never answers and voice mail stays full.
My brother-in-law ordered a shotgun at this store and paid cash. A year later, after monthly excuses of COVID delays, back ordered, shipping delays, they called the supplier and they said it was on its way, stuck in transit, at the “warehouse” and etc. he finally got his gun. It was NOT the shotgun he ordered, but close enough so he took it, not wanting to wait months longer.
@befuddled I get what your saying, I &have ordered many firearms over the years. And if I wanted a firearm they would order it for me , but not take a payment until the order was received. If you order yourself and not through a business you have complete control of the order status and tracking. The ones I deal with don’t even require a deposit, I tell them what I want and when it comes in I go pay for it .
This is not a veteran owned matter. The guys a crook period. I sold him some ammo, he gave me a hot check. I left some ammo there to be sold on consignment and still haven’t been paid. I’ve been given every excuse a family member died he had to pay for the funeral and many others. The problem he has is spending more than he makes. I would bet he comingles personal and business accounts and when he takes in money or deposits he tries to take care of previous customers and I bet the ones who gave him most trouble got paid first. I went to that store because they have been around years, now I wish I hadn’t. He had to know this was coming. I found a warning on Craigslist while looking for a puppy.
@Stumpknocker
I prefer to do business with a local Mom and Pop store when possible. If they were a legit business, the transaction would have been exactly the same as when I ended up ordering it online. I ordered, it was shipped to the dealer, and I picked it up. Should have been that way when I was dealing directly with them, but it wasn’t.
I keep reading that people had went in to order a firearm, why. Why wouldn’t you just order it yourself off the internet and probably get it cheaper too. That way you maintain control of the order not someone else. Just find a license dealer and have it sent there and complete paperwork. Most online sales will have a pop up map once you enter your zip which shows you all the available license dealers.
The fact that this is a veteran owned business doesn’t matter. I sincerely appreciate our veterans. But it’s became that we “owe” a vote to a politician due to them being a veteran. Now we are supposed to give a veteran a break on possible crimes committed?
Co-worker was scammed by this shop. Horrible way to treat customers, plus operating illegally. Not veteran bashing if actual charges are found true.
I also paid for a gun at this shop with my credit card. For months, it was on backorder from the manufacturer and the gun was always going to arrive in a few days. The few days ran into several months. I finally got tired of waiting and took my paperwork in and asked for my money back. They did reverse the charges and I was able to purchase a nicer gun and one that fit my small hand at a gun show. Paid a little more but you get what you pay for, the better S&W is in my safe and not arriving next week.
The ATF does not play with this sort of thing. Anyone with their name on the FFL logbook is gonna get spanked.
I had the same experience as a lot of others. I ordered a pistol in early 2021. Credit card machine was down so I needed to pay cash. Waited several months and no pistol. They kept saying it was backordered from the manufacturer. I didn’t get too much of a run around before I was given a refund. I ordered the same pistol through an online dealer and it was delivered to the FFL within a few days. I always got the feeling something shady was going on.
he got $800.00 from me 1/7/22 and have not got my ar yet and i now it seems like i wont get it are my money back. wished i had talked to people before i trusted them. I hope they nail them to the wall..
Went in there to purchase an AR and they did not have any. Jack said he could build me a higher quality AR with higher quality parts for a lower purchase price than just buying an AR off the shelf of a gun shop. I thought about it for a day and went back the next day and put down $1,000 for them to build me a medium quality mid-tier level brand name AR15. Jack said it would take a month to for me to get my new rifle. After a month, the rifle was not ready. Covid was the excuse which I was ok with. After the second month still no rifle….more Covid excuses from Jack. On the 3rd month, I checked again and they said the first parts of the rifle were beginning to arrive at their store. I asked the brand name of the parts that were arriving and they were a brand name of AR parts of the lowest quality. I knew which AR brand names were of low quality, mid-tier quality, and high quality. I was angered that they were building me a low quality AR when I paid for a mid-tier level quality of an AR. Don & Jack would not listen to me so I asked for a refund. It took a few weeks but I did in fact get a refund back to my debit card. They were sure as heck going to build me a $400 rifle though when I paid for a $1,000 rifle…..would have been a rip off of $600.
Hopefully the FDLE along with the other investigators will also confiscate the business records. Jack may be the headache, but Don has to know about the shady dealings too. How can he not? Reading comments below and BBB complaints, it’s hard to believe that Don the Con knows little about the purchase transactions and refund amounts. Not much of a business owner if he doesn’t.
Don and Jack in the scheme of things together.
May all you folks requesting your refunds, get satisfaction.
ATF is on top of this matter.
The problems are well documented on fb , bbb complaints etc. The article also states that the fdle is involved due to consumer complaints which with the amounts is involving felony theft which also involving a firearm is potential federal charges.
Veterans can’t be criminals? The “hassling” a veteran comment is a joke. FDLE, ATF, etc., does not care if you served.
Same issue with Dons. I put money down on a pistol $300 and took a year to get returned. Bought the same gun that was in stock at the Pensacola Indoor Shooting range. Much better outfit to deal with.
I’ve read the comments then went and looked at the reviews for this business. I also contacted this establishment concerning purchasing a firearm and was told it would be no problem getting it. I’m glad my work schedule didn’t afford me the opportunity to get up there. Seems to me, too much shady dealings going on up there. I hope those that got screwed over gets their monies back.
It seems that Jack (the ripoff) salesman is the problem.
The link will provide you with a few of the local complaints. This should clear up any questions a person may have about the business. (BBB link)
https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/pensacola/profile/gun-dealers/dons-gun-shop-0683-90070725/complaints
If you don’t have any complaints about this shop – you’re LUCKY !
They sold my gun and with funds I asked to purchase 2nd and laser. That was Feb 2021. Kept saying because of covid, delays on receiving shipment. After 1 year of waiting asked for refund. Ok. Debited my card and refund did not arrive. Was supposed to meet Jack at store, found he was arrested. Spoke to Done the owner Sauid jack was only person with access to bank account ??? Strange . Don us the owner and he has no access ?? Was supposed to get refund Tuesday 3/22/22 but now store has been raided. I am owed $588 not like others who lost thousands. Shame !
I went into Don’s with a friend who bought an AR15 last year and he (the friend) was promised a 1 month delivery date. Delivery never happened. When he asked for his money back after 3 months, he was given the run around about a refund and was eventually told they processed it. Five days passed and the refund had not posted. He called Navy Federal and asked about where his refund was stuck and was told it was never issued by Don’s. He was then given the runaround that the refund was stuck somewhere in the system. After 3 more days and me going with him, he was given a check for the refund amount. The check bounced. The friend contacted a lawyer and they guided him to the correct channels to address problem. ATF was instrumental in helping him get his refund.
Sold multiple weapons thru Don’s with no problems.Somewhere around the summer of 2020 something went wrong! Sold a weapon worth thousands and never got paid. Continuous lies thereafter everyday every week. This is not a fishing expedition many of people have been hurt financially and emotionally. These guys almost cost me my house and family due to there false promises and lies. It’s sad it took this long for them to get shut down
I sold a pistol through consignment with Don’s Gun Shop. No problems. I’ve bought several pistols there, again without issues caused by the shop. I’ll remain a loyal customer pending the investigation results.
You guys are really trying to dog on FDLE here. Just go look at the google reviews. The complaints are real. The search warrant is fine, go cry about it.
Lottttts of complaints about this guy taking payment for firearms that were never delivered and then refusing refunds.
This is the same guy I called to see if he had a common small part for an AR (detent pin) and he said “he’d have to see the rifle.” It’s the same part on millions of ARs.
Purchase 2 guns in the last year. They did background check and ask for CWP the second time. Always honest to me. Will patronize again.
Went in and purchased a rifle in September 2021. Jack, the salesman, said 4 to 6 weeks until arrival at first and every other week after that he just gave excuses. A warehouse in Arizona has the weapon and they have no truck drivers to deliver it. Multiple times Jack gave me a date to pick up the rifle and it has never showed up. Now they are under investigation and it serves them right. The gunsmithing in the shop is okay, but the sales of firearms, especially ordering firearms, is where the investigation should start.
I’ve used Don’s for years, seems like they are hassling a Veteran so far.
Went there to get info. Didn’t get a bad vibe at all. Interested to see what the complaints are ,an if they are Legit.
They were placing orders for guns collecting payment in full and never delivering the product, would come up with many excuses but never refund the customer. Also would take in consignments sell them and not pay the owner. Well documented on FB and Yelp
Never been there.
While I appreciate the FDLE might not want to give specifics, one would think they could speak in generalities otherwise, this seems like a fishing expedition.
@Chris, no matter what the air smells like.
I had my gun repaired at Don’s. NO COMPAINT ON MY PART. what
Was the cause here? Don told me parts could be 6-8 weeks out up front. AND IT DID.
They should divulge what LE is trying to bust the gun shop for and people might be more forthcoming with information. Otherwise, it might be assumed that the government is just trying to bully second amendment enthusiasts as per usual…just saying.
I went to Don’s a couple of years ago to inquire about a repair and get a quote. I had a feeling that something wasn’t right with this place. It just had a air about it that wasn’t right.
Can you tell us what they are accused of?