GUN dealer says he's still waiting for return of weapons

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) _ Items from a stolen gun collection that helped finance the Oklahoma City bombing are still in the hands of federal authorities. The former Arkansan who was robbed says he's

Monday, June 18th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) _ Items from a stolen gun collection that helped finance the Oklahoma City bombing are still in the hands of federal authorities. The former Arkansan who was robbed says he's been trying for years to get his guns back from the government but has been largely unsuccessful.

``I guess I'm going to have to get an attorney,'' said Roger E. Moore, 65, now of Malabar, Fla. He had lived on a 10-acre ranch near Royal, Ark.

Authorities said Terry Nichols, who along with Timothy McVeigh was convicted in the April 19, 1995, bombing that killed 168 people, robbed Moore at McVeigh's behest.

Retired FBI agent Floyd Hays, who investigated the robbery, said it is possible some weapons are being held back because Nichols has appealed his federal convictions and has state charges pending.

In the Nov. 4, 1994, robbery, Moore lost $60,000 worth of guns and other items, including coins, jewels and cash.

Moore said he drove from his home 75 miles southeast of Orlando to Denver last year and repeated the trip this year. Each time he was given only a portion of the recovered items. McVeigh and Nichols faced separate trials in a Denver federal court.

The Justice Department would not comment, with a spokesman citing a gag order in the bombing case.

Nichols, 46, was sentenced in 1997 to life in prison after he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy. McVeigh was executed last week. Neither had been charged in the robbery but federal prosecutors cited the weapons in describing how the bombing was financed.

Moore bought his Arkansas ranch after developing and then selling several boat-building companies in Florida. He said he left Arkansas in 1997 due to media attention from the bombing and because his neighbors were upset.