Phila. gun shop faces federal charges

Colosimo's Inc., the embattled Philadelphia gun dealer that has been the target of protests by religious leaders, was accused by federal prosecutors today of knowingly selling guns to straw purchasers.

Jim Colosimo, the owner of Colosimo's Gun Center on Spring Garden Street near Ninth Street, was not personally charged. He could not be reached for comment last night.

The charges against the business were contained in a criminal information, which means the defendant waived the right to have the case heard before a grand jury. A criminal information can mean the defendant will plead guilty, though that is not always the case.

The information charges the gun dealership with making false entries in gun-sales records by listing three buyers as the firearms purchasers "when the defendant knew or had reason to believe that each person was not the actual buyer, but was a straw purchaser."

The business also is charged with failing to maintain proper gun-sales records. The charges cover Aug. 4, 2004, through April 18, 2007.

Colosimo's Inc. faces a maximum of five years' probation and a $200,000 fine.

The gun shop has been targeted by religious leaders protesting straw purchases of guns at the store. Twelve protesters arrested in January at the shop were acquitted in May.

The elderly Colosimo, looking to close his business, has offered to sell the property he owns on the block to the Hershey Co.

The location is the site of Milton S. Hershey's first candy business, which failed but led to the creation of his chocolate empire.