“Those who supply dangerous firearms to violent criminals are as much a threat to the safety of our community as the criminals themselves,” Timothy Garrison, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri, wrote in a statement. “We will aggressively prosecute not only those who illegally possess firearms, but also the suppliers whose criminal conduct enables them to arm themselves with these weapons.”

Federal prosecutors said Samuels, who has worked for the Fire Department for more than 20 years, purchased mostly handguns over the last several years and that six of those weapons had been used in other crimes.

Samuels is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 11, the Star reported.