AG Brnovich Protects Gun Owners from Fraudulent Retailer

PHOENIX - While President Obama opines that it is too easy for people to buy guns, that was certainly not the case at Black Weapons Armory in Tucson. Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced today his office filed a Consumer Fraud Lawsuit against the Arizona firearms retailer accused of scamming gun owners out of thousands of dollars. The complaint alleges Black Weapons Armory and its owner John Thomas Rompel Jr. took payments for firearms and failed to deliver those firearms to consumers.

“Arizonans have a right to bear arms, but this gun store collected money and left its customer’s arms bare,” said Attorney General Brnovich. “Consumers trusted this business to deliver the goods and services they purchased. Our intent in filing this lawsuit is to help these consumers get their hard-earned money back.”

In January 2015, the Attorney General’s Office began to receive complaints from consumers after Black Weapons Armory in Tucson shut down. Fifteen consumers filed complaints with the Attorney General's Office alleging they paid Black Weapons for firearms that were never ordered or received. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit alleging Black Weapons violated the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. According to the lawsuit, Black Weapons took more than $14,000 from customers, failed to place an order for weapons customers paid for, and falsely told customers the delay in receiving firearms was due to a manufacturing delay. 

This case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Jeremy Shorbe.

If you believe you have been a victim of consumer fraud, please contact the Attorney General’s Office in Tucson at (520) 628-6504, in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 1 (800) 352-8431. Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting the Arizona Attorney General’s website.

For additional information, members of the media may contact Ryan Anderson, Director of Communications at (602) 339-6208 or [email protected].

For a copy of the Consumer Fraud Lawsuit.