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ELDON, IOWA -- An unlicensed firearms dealer in southeast Iowa has to make one of the largest firearms forfeitures in that part of the state.

Bela Hummel of Eldon, Iowa has to turn over more than 700 weapons, worth more than $100,000.  

Eldon is southeast of Ottumwa in Wapello County.

The sentence against Hummel stems from the case of a Columbia, Missouri police officer who got shot and died back in 2005.

The gun used to kill her was eventually traced to Hummel's sales of unlicensed firearms.

He also got three years' probation and mandatory community service.

News release from Columbia, Missouri Police Department:

On January 10, 2005 Columbia Police Officer Molly Bowden was shot during a traffic stop on Nifong Blvd. near Forum Blvd.  On February 10, 2005 Officer Bowden succumbed to these injuries. 

The Columbia Police Department requested assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (ATFE) in tracing the origin of the weapon used to assault our officer.  

After an extensive investigation, ATFE was able to trace the weapon, a Smith & Wesson .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol, to an unlicensed firearms dealer in Eldon, Iowa.  ATFE agents were then able to make multiple undercover firearm purchases from this dealer, identified as Bella Hummel of Eldon, Iowa. 

Hummel was arrested for selling these unlicensed firearms. Hummel received three years of probation for the offense in addition to serving 100 hours of community service.  Hummel is also prohibited from possessing any firearms in the future. 

 In March of 2006, a search warrant served by ATFE resulted in over 700 firearms being seized.  The estimated value of these firearms was $100,000.  

On October 24, 2008, U.S. District Judge Rongald Longstaff ordered Hummel to forfeit all of the firearms seized as part of his sentence for being an unlicensed firearms dealer. 

The Columbia Police Department greatly appreciates the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their investigation.  Finding those responsible and making them accountable for providing the weapon used to shoot one of our officers was of utmost concern and they are to be commended for their investigation.

News release from U.S. Department of Justice, United States Attorney, Southern District of Iowa:

U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker announces that Bela Hummel, 73, of Eldon, IA was ordered on October 24, 2008 by U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Longstaff to forfeit over $100,000 worth of firearms, over 700 weapons, as part of his sentence for being an unlicensed firearms dealer.

The case is believed to be one of the largest firearm forfeitures in the history of the Southern District of Iowa.

According to a civil forfeiture opinion issued on October 22, 2008 by Judge Longstaff, Hummel started his unlicensed firearms dealing in approximately 1990, and grew his personal collection of 60 guns into a business inventory of nearly 700 firearms.

The value of the forfeiture, and Mr. Hummel’s age, health, and lack of criminal record, were a factor in the court sentencing him to three years of probation, but the court also imposed a requirement that he serve 100 hours of community service in an area related to serving shooting or crime victims. He was also ordered to pay $100 to the Crime Victims Fund.

In lieu of a fine, Hummel agreed to abandon over 50 firearms that were his personal collection to the federal government, in addition to the forfeiture of his business inventory. As a consequence of his conviction, Mr. Hummel is now prohibited from possessing any firearms in the future.

The case was prosecuted by the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa and was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.