Oh good lord. Just when we thought the Gizmondo caper was over, with Stefan Eriksson safely behind bars, as you read about last week a bizarre and whole new chapter of shame in the saga begins.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Carl Freer, co-founder and managing director of Gizmondo, was arrested yesterday for allegedly impersonating a police officer, using a phony ID in order to obtain a .44 Magnum handgun, “widening an international investigation that began with the crash of a rare Ferrari in Malibu” according to the paper.
Carl Freer, 35, flashed a badge from the obscure San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority, telling a firearms dealer that he could buy the Dirty Harry gun without any of the required background checks. Perhaps he should have tried a Jedi mind trick instead!
Detectives said they found 12 rifles and four handguns during searches at Freer’s Bel Air home and on his massive yacht at Marina del Rey, something which begs the question – what was this guy planning? Is he a secret Al Qaeda cell or something, planning on taking out the US videogame industry?
Freer’s PR company issued a statement quoting his attorney Michael B. Miller, who said: "This is the result of a misunderstanding over the purchase of a gun, which we hope to resolve in the coming days…At no time did Mr. Freer misrepresent himself to a gun shop."
The LA Times also reports that Freer and Eriksson were members of the "anti-terrorism unit" of the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority, “a small private company that provides rides to disabled people and the elderly in Monrovia and Sierra Madre.”
The paper goes onto outline that, “The men served as advisors and were not sworn officers. But the agency issued both men cards, and Freer received a gold shield with "Deputy Commissioner" embossed on it…Until now, detectives were puzzled about why two Bel-Air businessmen would be involved in an obscure transit agency.”
Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore told the paper that neither Freer nor Eriksson would be allowed to purchase guns in the U.S. because they are foreign nationals. Police believe Freer used the Deputy Commissioner badge to buy one weapon and, in at least one case, signed a sworn document saying he was a police officer.
Detectives are still trying to determine what role the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority plays in the case. The LA Times reports that the two cities that had agreements with the agency have since cancelled them.
"I think it's safe to say the house of cards is falling down," said Sierra Madre City Manager John Gillison of the latest revelations. "We were uncomfortable with a lot of the events and circumstances surrounding the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority."
Eriksson, who spent five years in a Swedish prison for assault, counterfeiting and narcotics offences before becoming an executive with Gizmondo, faces a preliminary hearing today on embezzlement, grand theft, drunk driving and firearms charges.
It now looks like he might at least have a friend in jail. Every cloud has a silver lining, Stefan.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Carl Freer, co-founder and managing director of Gizmondo, was arrested yesterday for allegedly impersonating a police officer, using a phony ID in order to obtain a .44 Magnum handgun, “widening an international investigation that began with the crash of a rare Ferrari in Malibu” according to the paper.
Carl Freer, 35, flashed a badge from the obscure San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority, telling a firearms dealer that he could buy the Dirty Harry gun without any of the required background checks. Perhaps he should have tried a Jedi mind trick instead!
Detectives said they found 12 rifles and four handguns during searches at Freer’s Bel Air home and on his massive yacht at Marina del Rey, something which begs the question – what was this guy planning? Is he a secret Al Qaeda cell or something, planning on taking out the US videogame industry?
Freer’s PR company issued a statement quoting his attorney Michael B. Miller, who said: "This is the result of a misunderstanding over the purchase of a gun, which we hope to resolve in the coming days…At no time did Mr. Freer misrepresent himself to a gun shop."
The LA Times also reports that Freer and Eriksson were members of the "anti-terrorism unit" of the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority, “a small private company that provides rides to disabled people and the elderly in Monrovia and Sierra Madre.”
The paper goes onto outline that, “The men served as advisors and were not sworn officers. But the agency issued both men cards, and Freer received a gold shield with "Deputy Commissioner" embossed on it…Until now, detectives were puzzled about why two Bel-Air businessmen would be involved in an obscure transit agency.”
Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore told the paper that neither Freer nor Eriksson would be allowed to purchase guns in the U.S. because they are foreign nationals. Police believe Freer used the Deputy Commissioner badge to buy one weapon and, in at least one case, signed a sworn document saying he was a police officer.
Detectives are still trying to determine what role the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority plays in the case. The LA Times reports that the two cities that had agreements with the agency have since cancelled them.
"I think it's safe to say the house of cards is falling down," said Sierra Madre City Manager John Gillison of the latest revelations. "We were uncomfortable with a lot of the events and circumstances surrounding the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority."
Eriksson, who spent five years in a Swedish prison for assault, counterfeiting and narcotics offences before becoming an executive with Gizmondo, faces a preliminary hearing today on embezzlement, grand theft, drunk driving and firearms charges.
It now looks like he might at least have a friend in jail. Every cloud has a silver lining, Stefan.
Read More Like This