New Milford Man Admits Conspiring to Sell Firearms Allegedly Belonging to Saddam Hussein's Family

A New Milford man admitted his role in conspiring to sell seven firearms believed to have belonged to the family of Saddam Hussein Wednesday, authorities said.

Carlos Manuel Quirola, aka “Carlos Quirola-Ordonez,” aka “Manny, 58, pleaded guilty ”to Count One of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to transport stolen firearms,” U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

In April 2012, law enforcement received information that valuable firearms allegedly belonging to the members of the family of the late Iraqi president Saddam Hussein were available for sale and were believed to be kept in Florida as Quirola and others attempted to find a buyer from them in New Jersey.

The firearms, appraised at $250,000 to $350,000, were shipped to New Jersey so that potential buyers could view them.

Federal law enforcement officers seized the following firearms in the course of the investigation:

• One Coonan Arms Inc. .357 semi-automatic pistol made in Minnesota with gold inlay and a medallion “QS” on left grip, which is believed to be the initials of Qusay Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti, the second son of Saddam Hussein.
• One Korth .357 magnum revolver (six shot) stamped “Made in W. Germany Waffenfabrik Koth Ratzbburg/LBG” with gold inlay, black finish and wood grips, which displays the drawing of a wild boar.
• One Korth .357 magnum revolver (six shot) stamped “Made in W. Germany Waffenfabrik Koth Ratzbburg/LBG” with gold inlay, black finish and wood grips, which displays the drawing of a wild moose.
• One Chinese State Factories type 64 pistol .32 caliber semi-auto pistol with black finish, a Yemen flag icon on both sides of the grip and Arabic writing on the side.
• Two Cosmi 12 gauge shotguns, break top, single barral
• One Llama Semiautomatic .45 ACP pistol with gold leaf and gold inlays, hand engraved, bearing the initials “Q.S.”

The count to which Quirola pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, Fishman said. Sentencing is scheduled for June 1.

Two other individuals Karlo Sauer and Howard Blumenthal, have pleaded guilty to their roles in this conspiracy. Blumenthal has been sentenced, while Sauer is awaiting sentencing.

Another individual, David Ryan, is charged by indictment and a trial date is scheduled for May 11.

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