Former Pasadena police Lt. Vasken Gourdikian was sentenced to a year in federal prison Monday for illegally selling 108 guns over a three-year period.

Federal prosecutors had asked for a 30-month sentence for Gourdikian, but Judge Stephen Wilson imposed a term of 12 months and one day, making the disgraced former officer eligible for a 15 percent reduction in his sentence.

Gourdikian’s attorney, Mark Werksman, anticipates his client will serve less than seven months behind bars. The judge ordered him to surrender on June 3, allowing him to first attend his son’s high school graduation. He also will have to pay a $10,000 fine.

In a plea deal last year, Gourdikian admitted he used his position as a police officer to bypass waiting periods and obtain firearms that the public can’t otherwise buy from a dealer.

Gourdikian pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to felony charges of selling firearms without a license and falsifying a record, wherein he had claimed he was buying a firearm for himself even though he intended to sell it.

The former police officer resigned from the Pasadena Police Department in March 2018. Before federal agents raided his home, Gourdikian served as the department’s spokesman and as former Police Chief Phillip Sanchez’s right-hand man. He collected $191,000 in pay while the federal investigation was ongoing.

Sanchez was pressured into retiring shortly after Gourdikian was indicted. Emails uncovered in May revealed that the chief’s wife had consulted with Gourdikian about buying World War II-era rifles a month before the raid. Sanchez wrote Gourdikian several waivers — a common practice in police departments — that allowed him to skip the 10-day waiting period. At least one of those guns was immediately flipped.

Gun hobbyist who got swept up

Gourdikian sold most of the firearms to people he met through Calguns.net, a message board for gun owners.

At the hearing, Werksman argued his client was a hobbyist who got swept up and did not realize he was breaking the law until it was too late. The offense is based on the frequency and volume of the sales.

Wilson, at one point, called the law “messy” and spent much of Monday’s hearing walking through the steps Gourdikian followed when selling a gun. None of the guns sold was used in a crime, though one did turn up at a crime scene, according to emails released by the city.

Werksman had argued that prison would be dangerous for Gourdikian and that he had suffered enough punishment from losing his job and his reputation. CalPERS, the state’s pension system, recently decided that as a result of his crimes, his pension would be effective as of 2014 — not 2018 when he was terminated — effectively cutting his final salary calculation by 18 percent.

“This is a man who is tremendously proud of the public service he provided, and, along the way, he slipped,” Werksman said.

Uncheckered past

Indeed, the judge acknowledged that while the offense was serious, he did not believe Gourdikian’s actions created a danger to the public. He described the former officer as a valued citizen with an uncheckered past.

Those qualities, Wilson said, “weighed heavily in his favor.”

Gourdikian addressed the court to express remorse for his actions. He said it had been two years since he last wore a uniform and he misses serving others. He told the judge he has made efforts to rebuild his life, including starting a new career.

“I want to be useful again, your honor,” he said, his voice cracking. “I want my children to see that I can be useful.”

Sobs from supporters

The courtroom was packed with family and friends of Gourdikian. Sobs could be heard as the disgraced former lieutenant spoke. Approximately 60 letters of support were submitted on his behalf.

Werksman pointed to the turnout as evidence of the impact Gourdikian had in his two decades as a public servant.

Assistant United States Attorney Elisa Fernandez, who argued for the 30-month sentence recommended in the plea agreement, described Gourdikian’s gun sales as a conscious effort to circumvent laws for the purpose of making a profit.

Gourdikian exploited loophole

About 75 percent of the guns he sold are considered “off-roster” in California, which means they cannot be sold to the public by a licensed gun dealer. Gourdikian exploited a loophole that allows police officers to buy these weapons and legally sell them through a private transfer.

Gourdikian sold his guns to private parties and always made the sales in the presence of a federally licensed dealer, as required by law, but he never bought and sold a gun at the same location, because he knew the quick turnaround would raise red flags, Fernandez argued. If Gourdikian had properly registered as a federal firearms licensee, he would not have been able to sell the much more profitable off-roster weapons anymore.

The former police officer was caught when he sold a shotgun to an undercover agent. Gourdikian was in uniform and driving his police cruiser at the time.

“His character should also be judged by his decision to repeatedly violate the law,” Fernandez said.

After the sentencing, Gourdikian thanked the dozens of friends and family members who had come out to support him. “I’m done crying about this,” he said.

The gathering, made up largely of members of various Armenian groups that supported him, then held a prayer outside the courtroom doors.