HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut Attorney Gen. William Tong has shut down another firearms dealer for illegally selling ghost gun parts in Connecticut, according to a release from his office Wednesday.
AR Industries, based in Utah, will cease operations after settling with the state for selling prohibited items in Connecticut. Tong’s office says AR industries must dissolve, surrender their internet domain and deactivate all social media accounts.
Additionally, AR’s principal must annually report whether she or any other agents of the company have formed any business to resume the sale of ghost gun parts. If the agents resume selling ghost gun parts through a new business, the principal must attest to full compliance with Connecticut laws.
If AR associates illegally sell items in Connecticut, or violate the settlement’s terms, the state will enforce a $205,000 penalty, according to Tong’s office.
“Ghost guns exist to evade law enforcement and registration. They are untraceable and illegal in Connecticut,” Tong said. “AR Industries shipped these crime guns into Connecticut in violation of our laws, and we are shutting them down.”
Tong says the state’s message to ghost gun dealers is clear, adding, “If you ship to Connecticut, we will find you and hold you accountable.”
This settlement is the third that the state has reached with ghost gun dealers regarding illegal sales into Connecticut.
Tong’s office notes that Florida-based ghost gun dealer Steel Fox Firearms has also dissolved in a similar settlement with Connecticut. Tong also reached a $425,000 settlement with Hell Fire Armory, based in North Carolina; the settlement requires strong disclaimers and controls to prevent sales in Connecticut.
The armory must report compliance to the Office of the Attorney General in Connecticut for six years. If the company complies with all the agreement’s terms, all but $16,000 of the civil penalty will be suspended.
The case against one other defendant remains pending, according to Tong’s office.
Tong is being assisted in this matter by Assistant Attorneys General Rebecca Quinn, Katherine Hagmann-Borsenstein and Addison Keilty, as well as Deputy Associate Attorney General Mike Wertheimer, head of the Consumer Protection Section.
----
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
----
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.