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SW IA sheriff’s office probed for weapons swap

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April 22nd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State auditors are investigating a southwest Iowa county sheriff’s office that swapped seized weapons to a firearms dealer in exchange for gun parts.  The Des Moines Register reports that the deal may violate a state law against selling, trading or giving away guns and ammo seized during investigations.  County records show the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office traded away as many as 47 shotguns, 36 rifles and 27 handguns.

Sheriff Kevin Aistrope told the newspaper that he’d done so as a way to augment his department’s arsenal without incurring any cost for taxpayers.  Representatives for the Iowa Public Safety Department and Attorney General’s Office say their departments aren’t investigating the swap.