3 men charged with unlawful sale of firearms near Miramichi

Three men have been charged after a seven-weekundercover operation in the Miramichi area.

Ralph John McCray, 56, Todd Elmer Trepanier, 47, and Gregory Michel Richard, 19, appeared in Miramichi provincial court Thursday wherethey were charged with 20 firearm-related offences in total.

The raid occurred at Miramichi City Surplus. McCray is listed as a director of the business on the store's provincial corporate registration. According toRCMP Const. Eric Anderson of the Sunny Corner detachment, the remaining two men are employees there.

"This stemmed from a separate investigation on an individual who was in possession of a prohibited firearm," saidAnderson.

"This is a concern to the police because of the potential of firearms getting into the hands of people with criminal records, including those who have been prohibited from possessing firearms," saidan RCMP press release.

McCray was charged with sixoffences, Trepanier with four, and Richard with 10. All of the charges are related to the unlawful or unauthorized transfer of firearms and ammunition, according to the RCMP press release.

Anderson allegesthe search, executed Wednesday, turned up a prohibited gun magazine.

A magazine is an attachment to a gun which holds rounds a gun will fire. In Canada, semiautomatic rifles are limited to five cartridges.Semiautomatic handguns are limited to 10 cartridges.

"These magazines hold what looks like 30 rounds," saidAnderson. "They have rivets which allow only fiveat a time, but if you tamper with it, it can allow you to access all the rounds, whatever the size is."

Chris McCray, the brother of Ralph McCray, told CBC News thepolice operation was "way over the top" for what he saidwas an"honest mistake" overchecking for identification.

Miramichi City Surplus shares a link to the Miramichi Sportsmens Club on its website.

Club presidentMorrill Sisk, said he wasnt aware of any problems at the store.

"I'm kind of surprised. I didn't hear anything about a raid, saidSisk.

"You can take a 10 or 20-round magazine and modify it for fivewhich is common. You can get a gunsmith to modify it so it still has the same look," he said.

"We certainly don't foster the use of illegal guns at the range."

No connection to Moncton shooting investigation

A gun photographed strapped to JustinBourque, 24, who stands accused of killing threeRCMP officers and attempting to murder two others in a June 4shooting in Moncton, appeared to have a large-capacity magazine clipped to it.

Anderson saidthis case is not related.

Thats a separate investigation, he said. Theres no connection between the two incidents.

McCray, Trepanierand Richard are scheduled to appear in court again August 25.