Salem businessman charged with illegal gun sales

A Salem business owner has been charged in federal court with selling firearms without a license and illegal possession of a machine gun.

A trial for Andrew Phillip Nordstrom, 41, is set for October.

Nordstrom, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan at the U.S. District Court of Oregon in Portland Aug. 3 where he pleaded not guilty to the charges after Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms agents confiscated 280 firearms from three Salem businesses and Nordstrom's Scio residence.

According to a federal search warrant affidavit signed by Michael C. McNall, a veteran ATF Agent who investigated the case, Nordstrom had purchased 122 handguns in less than five years — 103 of them from Blackwater Tactical, a local licensed gun shop. Nordstrom is the landlord for Blackwater Tactical on 12th Street SE.

Nordstrom also owns two businesses on 12th Street SE: Salem Emblem and the Trading Post.

Federal law requires individuals "engaged in the business" of manufacturing or selling firearms to obtain a federal firearms license.

Being "engaged in the business" is defined as anyone who manufactures firearms, devotes time, or attention and labor to manufacturing firearms as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the sale or distribution of the firearms.

Nordstrom was not a licensed gun dealer, according to the affidavit. On Nov. 4, 2014, federal search warrants were issued for Nordstrom's home in Scio, Salem Emblem, the Trading Post and Blackwater Tactical:

202 firearms were found at Nordstrom's Scio residence, 184 of which were found in the basement.

65 firearms were discovered at the Trading Post at 1060 12th St. SE Of the 65, 56 were found in a hidden gun room behind a mirrored sliding glass door. Nine more were found in an office of one of Nordstrom's employees. The business has since closed, it is unclear whether it has reopened elsewhere.

11 firearms were found at Salem Emblem, a business that specializes in embroidery, screen printing and letterman's jackets, at 1185 12th St. SE.

Two were found at Blackwater Tactical gun shop where Nordstrom is the landlord. The gun shop shares an address with Salem Emblem and is located just next door.

According to McNall, Nordstrom bought several firearms from Blackwater Tactical, which is a licensed gun shop. He advertised the guns for sale online at Gunbroker.com, Outdoorstrader.com and other websites.

A box of records confiscated from the Trading Post indicated between 2011 and 2014 Nordstrom transferred at least 181 firearms, mainly advertised on Gunbroker.com, and received $155,356.31, according to the affidavit.

Between March 14, 2013, and Oct. 7, 2014, an undercover ATF agent purchased 16 new and used firearms from Nordstrom and others who was selling firearms on behalf of Nordstrom.

Nordstrom told ATF agents he collected the guns as an investment as he does not "have a lot of faith in the dollar," according to the affidavit which states he also acquired the firearms to trade for things other than guns including lawn mowers, weed eaters and at least one vehicle.

According to the affidavit, Nordstrom told ATF agents he did not sell firearms from his home, that most of his transactions took place at Salem Emblem.

At the hearing, Sullivan allowed Nordstrom to remain out of custody while awaiting trial. He was ordered not to possess nor obtain or sell any firearms.

Email aroemeling@statesmanjournal.com, call (503) 399-6884 or follow on Twitter @alisharoemeling

Trial set

Andrew Phillip Nordstrom is set to appear for a three-day jury trial beginning at 9 a.m. Oct. 6 at the U.S. District Court in Portland.