Pasadena police Lt. Vasken Gourdikian pleaded not guilty Friday to allegations that he sold more than 100 firearms without a license over a three-year period.

Gourdikian surrendered to federal authorities Friday morning and appeared for an arraignment in a Los Angeles federal courthouse later that afternoon.

“He’s committed to fighting the charges against him,” attorney Robert Kalunian said during the hearing. He later declined to answer reporters’ questions about the indictment unsealed this week.

Gourdikian was charged with dealing firearms without a license; making false statement during the purchase of firearms; and possession of an unregistered firearm, according to the indictment. He allegedly sold weapons throughout Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties between March 2014 and February 2017.

If convicted on all counts, Gourdikian would face a maximum sentence of 35 years in federal prison.

Pasadena police Chief Phillip Sanchez placed Gourdikian on unpaid leave in response to Friday’s indictment.

“The allegations, if true, are concerning,” Sanchez said in a statement. “We continue to cooperate with federal authorities and are continuing our Internal Affairs investigation into this matter.”

The police lieutenant was put on paid leave Feb. 16, 2017, the same day the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives raided Gourdikian’s Sierra Madre home. Agents seized 32 pistols, 19 rifles, five rifle parts, three shotguns and two revolvers, according to a forfeiture notice. One of the weapons seized, a short barrel rifle, was not registered.

Since that day, Gourdikian has been paid more than $191,000.

At the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Sanchez put on hold the administrative investigation into whether Gourdikian violated any departmental policies. The inaction has frustrated city officials who believe Gourdikian shouldn’t have continued collecting his salary.

The department has known for months that Gourdikian, using a city email address, set up an account known as “vgourdik” on Calguns.net. Of the more than 863 public posts made by Gourdikian, more than 70 offered to sell firearms and gun parts between 2013 and 2017. At least 63 of those posts were later marked as sold.

Federal authorities say they’ve traced the sales of at least 107 firearms back to Gourdikian.

In May 2015, Gourdikian received a waiver from Sanchez that allowed him to bypass a 10-day waiting period for a Glock 43 pistol. The waiver states the Glock was purchased for off-duty use, not for resale. Seven days later, Gourdikian listed a gun of the same make and model on Calguns.

The gun did not appear on the list of firearms seized last year, and city officials noted they were aware of “a discrepancy” with the seizure list.

According to the indictment, Gourdikian allegedly sold a Glock 43 and seven other pistols to someone in Duarte in June 2015. The court documents indicate the police officer frequently sold weapons in bulk.

For example, on a single day May 2016, he allegedly sold seven semi-automatic pistols in Hacienda Heights. Again, in November 2016, Gourdikian allegedly sold eight firearms in Duarte, including six pistols and two semi-automatic rifles.

“This investigation started through routine analysis of multiple sales and trace reports by ATF’s L.A. Crime Gun Intelligence Center,” Bill McMullan, special agent in charge of the ATF Los Angeles Field Division, said in a statement. “As alleged in the indictment, Mr. Gourdikian used his position as a law enforcement officer to buy firearms from gun dealers that the general public could not. He then repeatedly sold those firearms at a profit.

“Bringing a case against a law enforcement officer is never pleasant, but we hold public safety and a commitment to justice above everything. We are grateful for the Pasadena Police Department’s cooperation in this case.”

Many of the firearms Gourdikian is believed to have sold are classified as “off-roster,” meaning they can not be purchased by the general public in California. Police officers, however, are exempt, and while its not illegal to sell an off-roster firearm to another individual, officers can run into trouble if they’re using their exemption to flip the weapons for a profit.

The indictment alleges Gourdikian used his employment as a police officer to buy the hard-to-acquire weapons solely for the purpose of selling them.

In at least two instances, federal authorities believe the police lieutenant made false statements on firearms transaction records by stating he intended to buy the weapon for himself, when he was buying it on behalf of a third party.

At his arraignment Friday, Assistant. U.S. Attorney Elisa Fernandez described Gourdikian as a potential flight risk. She said the officer withheld at least three firearms registered to him from investigators.

“He had them for more than a year and a half and did not say he had them,” Fernandez said.

The U.S. Attorney’s office wanted to secure Gourdikian’s bond with the deed of one of his properties, but the judge did not agree and allowed him to be released him with a $100,000 surety. Fernandez said Gourdikian is making at least $9,000 a month through rental properties in Pasadena and Monrovia. Gourdikian made more than $300,000 a year from his job and his properties, before factoring in overtime and his benefits.

Kalunian’s client has no intentions of leaving, as his ties to the community “are as strong any,” he said.

“He was born in this community, he was raised in it,” Kalunian said. “His family is here, his whole life is here.”

Gourdikian is scheduled to appear in court again April 24.