International Gun-Smuggling Scheme in Ohio—Man Earned $400,000 Trafficking Firearms
A man allegedly hid firearms inside household appliances and smuggled them to international buyers, now he’s been busted by the feds in Ohio. 🌐 #News #ClevelandOH #Ohio #Crime
CLEVELAND, OH – A 60-year-old man allegedly ran an international gun-smuggling scheme, hiding firearms inside household appliances like toasters and space heaters. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Northern Ohio indicted him, accusing him of selling and shipping the concealed weapons to buyers in Saudi Arabia. Authorities say he earned nearly $400,000 over several years.
The six-count indictment against Mark Buschman, of Viroqua, Wisconsin, claims he ran the illegal operation from February 2019 through December 2024.
Prosecutors allege he obtained guns and firearm parts within the U.S. and sold them through online marketplaces like eBay. But behind these sales, he allegedly agreed to ship the weapons to international buyers.
Secret Shipments Hidden in Appliances
When Saudi buyers expressed interest, Buschman reportedly smuggled the guns by hiding rifle barrels inside car axles and pistols in common appliances like toasters and coffee makers.
Some firearms allegedly had their serial numbers removed before being packaged, according to the indictment.
He used the U.S. Postal Service to send the disguised shipments to freight forwarders in Ohio, New Jersey, and Oregon. Once delivered, the items were sent overseas without the required export declarations.
Investigators say Buschman used fake return addresses on the packages to conceal his involvement and bypass federal regulations.
Massive Payouts and Potential Prison Time
Authorities say Saudi-based buyers paid Buschman around $398,000 throughout the scheme.
His strategy relied on hiding the shipments under misleading labels to avoid detection by customs officials and federal inspectors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are involved in the investigation.
If convicted, Buschman faces up to 42 years in prison and fines totaling $1.5 million.
RELATED TOPICS: Crime | Ohio | Saudi Arabia | Wisconsin
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