Ex-police chief admits concealing shop income

CEDAR RAPIDS - A former police chief and gun dealer in Williamsburg pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to structuring cash deposits to conceal gun sales, and he agreed to forfeit nearly $375,000 as part of the plea agreement.

Michael Gabriel, who retired from the Williamsburg Police Department in 2007 and formerly operated Gabe's Gun Shop in Williamsburg, pleaded guilty to one count of structuring monetary transactions to evade reporting requirements. Gabriel faces one to five years of probation and a fine of up to $500,000, along with the $374,950 forfeiture.

Between April 27, 2009, and Aug. 17, 2010, according to court documents, Gabriel attempted to conceal the proceeds from his gun business by splitting up single-day cash deposits in excess of $10,000 into smaller deposits to avoid the reporting requirement.

The Internal Revenue Service initially seized money from Gabriel's business and home in April 2011. A criminal investigation followed, and Gabriel was charged this month in U.S. District Court.

According to Gabe's Gun Shop website, Cody and Nick Gabriel now operate the business in Williamsburg.

Michael Gabriel joined the Williamsburg Police Department in 1975, became the police chief a year later and retired in May 2007.

Sentencing hasn't yet been scheduled.