Turning now to our other ongoing investigation - we have more on suspect gun license issuances tonight. 7News has received a credible report that a gun license was issued to a businessman from a family with a heavy criminal background - including high level drug convictions. Now, granted, no person should be made to suffer for the sins of their siblings - but the commissioner does always warn that crime - adjacent persons could be getting legal firearms on behalf of their criminally involved family members.
And because of his name - we are told this person was induced by a corrupt police operative - who - we stress - is not the commissioner of police - to pay exorbitantly for his backdoor gun license.
We asked the Commissioner about it - and even though the name is well known - he said he could not recall and denied that anyone paid for anything. For obvious reasons, we cannot include the name in the report:
Jules Vasquez
"Should someone like that, because I'm told the man had to pay heftily for his gun licensed because of his name. He had to above cost. So usually they would charge you $1,500, he had to pay significantly more than that. That's what I am told. So, I'm asking, because I am not running out there and report it."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Again, I don't know where you get that from. I don't know he paid, because nobody can't say they pay me nothing. I don't know the individual. Yes, I know the other 3 brothers whose name had always been called in the past, but that individual you are speaking about I don't know. I would have to get the name and then check the system."
Jules Vasquez
"But should someone from that family, regardless of the price?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"If he is not a part of their enterprise, not a part of what they do, then he should not be denied."
We continue to receive reports of gun licenses improperly issued for payment of bribes and we will continue to follow up.
