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'American Guns' Reality Show Star Indicted For Allegedly Selling Firearms Illegally

DENVER (CBS4) - The owner of the Gunsmoke gun shop who appeared on the reality show "American Guns" has been arrested and indicted by a grand jury for dealing firearms without a license and tax-related charges.

Richard Wyatt, 52, surrendered to authorities Thursday morning. He's well known for his "American Guns" TV show which ran on the Discovery Channel.

Richard Wyatt
Richard Wyatt (credit: Wheat Ridge Police)

Wyatt has been under investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Internal Revenue Service, and now he faces a 13-count indictment.

Wyatt surrendered his firearms license in April 2012 for violations of federal laws and regulations that haven't been specified.

In April of 2015 federal agents raided the store located in Wheat Ridge and numerous firearms were confiscated.

The indictment charges that Wyatt conspired with others to sell guns without a license. He is accused of changing the address of a store known as Triggers to the Gunsmoke address, but he never owned Triggers. When customers paid for guns at Wyatt's shop they were sent to Triggers to fill out background check paperwork and pick up the guns," according to the indictment.

Wyatt is also charged with failing to pay personal and corporate income tax for several years.

When Wyatt appeared in court Thursday afternoon he was in handcuffs and shackles around his ankles. He objected to being held until at least next Tuesday. He was told that U.S. Attorney John Walsh does not want him to return to his home while there are guns in it. Wyatt said he tried to get rid of the guns but is having trouble getting people to remove them.

Wyatt faces up to five years in federal prison on each of the several counts plus fines if convicted.

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