Ex-Dodge sales manager arrested for allegedly smuggling illegal firearms

SANTA ANA, Calif.

— A former deputy sales manager at a major auto parts manufacturer was arrested Monday on charges he illegally transported hundreds of illegally obtained firearms from the company to his wife, authorities said.

The arrest was made at a dealership in Santa Ana.

The charges include conspiracy to transport stolen firearms.

“The alleged conduct, the fact that he was in possession of firearms that were stolen, he knew he was going to get them back and he didn’t care about anybody else,” Santa Ana Police Chief Eric J. Rizzo said.

Razzo said a firearms officer stopped the Dodge truck that was being driven in the parking lot at the dealership and discovered about 100 firearms that had been stolen.

Riffer Davis, 47, was booked into Santa Ana Jail on suspicion of felony possession of stolen firearms and conspiracy to deliver stolen firearms, Santa Ana police said in a statement.

He was being held on $200,000 bail.

The Santa Ana City Attorney’s Office said the charges are the result of a joint investigation with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.

A deputy found the guns at the business and seized them, the statement said.

Davis has been with the Dodge dealership for five years, according to the company’s website.

The company said in its statement that it was aware of the incident and took immediate action to stop Davis.