California Brothers Face Legal Battle Over Alleged Ammunition Scheme
In an unexpected twist involving federal regulations and international imports, two brothers from California are embroiled in legal proceedings for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to bring nearly 500,000 armor-piercing rounds into the United States. The intriguing case, which involves a small-town Wisconsin police chief, has drawn the attention of federal authorities.
According to court documents, Jacob and Darin Dowd operated a gun dealership in Vacaville, California. In June 2021, Jacob Dowd submitted a request to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to import approximately 490,000 rounds of armor-piercing ammunition from Smart Energeo Sistemi, a firm based in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
While federal law typically restricts the import of such ammunition, exceptions exist for law enforcement agencies. The Dowds stated in their application that the ammunition was intended for “law enforcement sales.” This was supported by a purchase order for 1.5 million rounds from James Bushey, then the police chief of Linn, Wisconsin, a town with a population of about 2,700.
The ATF halted the import when suspicions arose around the purchase order. “TLPD is a small police department,” prosecutors noted. “It had no intention to purchase the … ammunition, had no funds to purchase the ammunition, and had no legitimate use for that ammunition.”
Prosecutors allege the Dowds used a Wisconsin resident as an intermediary to contact Bushey. This individual, identified in court documents as J.W., is reportedly a former roommate of Bushey’s, according to media sources.
Allegedly, the Dowds proposed to Bushey that he sign a fictitious purchase order to bolster their import application in exchange for funds to acquire squad cars and equipment to further his career. Bushey purportedly agreed, producing a counterfeit order on department letterhead.
A search warrant revealed that the town board approved the arrangement after Bushey informed members of the Dowds’ intention to donate the ammunition to the police department, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. However, he did not disclose his own financial compensation for the fraudulent order.
Prosecutors argue that the Dowds planned to distribute the ammunition to other buyers. The court documents do not reveal the identities of these alleged buyers, nor do they imply any intent for the ammunition to be used in an attack.
Darin Dowd faced conspiracy charges last July and admitted guilt in October; his sentencing is pending. Jacob Dowd was charged with conspiracy recently and is set to plead guilty in a hearing on May 19, as per an online plea agreement and court schedule. Both face a potential five-year federal prison sentence.
Requests for comments from Jacob Dowd’s attorney, Julian Linnen, and Darin Dowd’s attorney, Paul Jannuzzo, went unanswered.
As for Bushey, he has not faced charges. Attempts by the Associated Press to reach him or his legal representative were unsuccessful. A message sent to a potential LinkedIn account for Bushey also went unanswered.
Linn’s interim police chief, Graham Gunyon, confirmed Bushey’s voluntary departure from the department. Bushey was succeeded by Jon Albrecht in March 2022, but Albrecht later took on the role of chief in nearby Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Gunyon refused to share Bushey’s contact details and refrained from commenting on Bushey’s alleged involvement or his communications with the town board. The board’s chairperson and other members also did not respond to inquiries.
Steve Caballero, representing the U.S. attorney’s office in Milwaukee, declined to comment on whether Bushey remains under investigation, and an FBI spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for information.
