Visser Pleads Guilty to Selling Stolen Firearms

On Thursday, former Tulsa police officer Buddy Visser pled guilty in federal court to selling stolen firearms and ammunition over the internet.

The 47-year-old Visser pled guilty to Possession or Sale of Stolen Firearms & Ammunition and a second count of Mail Fraud & Deprivation of Honest Services.  The charges were contained in an indictment filed on March 5th. 

Visser admitted that between January and November 2007, he possessed and sold at least eight, but less than 24 firearms and multiple cases of ammunition that he had stolen from the police department firearms training range. 

Visser also admitted that he sold and offered to sell the stolen firearms and ammunition on the internet website of Gunbroker.com.  Visser used the U.S. Postal Service and UPS to ship the stolen guns and ammunition to various parties.  Visser then deposited the money orders he received as payment into his checking account at the TPD Fraternal Order of Police Credit Union in Tulsa.

Sentencing in the case is set for June 10th.  Visser could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of $250,000 for Count 1, and up to 20 years and $250,000 on Count 2.

"This case and other recent federal public corruption prosecutions in the Northern District reflect the continuing commitment of my office, the federal investigative agencies and the Tulsa Police Department to root out, expose and bring to justice corrupt public servants, including those working within law enforcement.  Our citizens and communities expect and deserve to be served by only the most honest public officials and we will continue to hold them to the highest standards of conduct," said United States Attorney David E. O'Meilia.

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