Former Addyston Police Chief Indicted For Illegal Machine Gun Sales

Dorian LaCourse resigned his position as police chief in March 2020 after allegations he bought and sold weapons without Village Council consent.

(Addyston, Oh.) – Former Addyston Police Chief Dorian LaCourse is facing jail time after being indicted on conspiracy charges.

LaCourse resigned as police chief on March 1, 2020 after he was suspended without pay for several alleged violations including buying and selling weapons without Village Council consent.

The indictment against LaCourse reads as Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Make False Statements to Federal Firearms Licensee and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.

According to court documents, LaCourse knowingly and willingly combined, conspired and agreed to acquire machine guns by means of fraud and false statements and representations, and to re-sell them for profit.

The alleged actions took place beginning in or before October 2015 and continued through or around May 2019, according to the U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana.

LaCourse allegedly co-conspired with two firearms dealers from Indiana by the names of Jonathan Marcum (Laurel) and Christopher Petty (Lawrenceburg).  

The indictment reads:

“The co-conspirators acquired, and attempted to acquire, machine guns by purporting to comply with federal law concerning the law enforcement exceptions to the general prohibition on purchases, sales, and importation of machine guns. The co-conspirators drafted, completed, signed, and submitted documentation to the ATF NFA Branch and other FFL/SOTs that falsely claimed that the Addyston Police Department either (a) intended to purchase machine guns for its own use, or (b) intended to receive a demonstration of machine guns purchased by Marcum and Petty for possible future purchase by the Addyston Police Department.”

Based on the statements and representations, the AFT NFA Branch approved the purchases, sales, and importation of approximately 200 guns, which Marcum and Petty could re-sell for profit. The types of machine guns sold included M2HB QCB, M249SAW, and SCAR-16 machine guns. 

LaCourse allegedly received a portion of the profits for his role in the scheme. The indictment shows that Marcum wrote approximately 11 checks to LaCourse, totaling approximately $11,500.

All three individuals are facing prison time, if convicted. 

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