PAGELAND, S.C. — Deputies in Chesterfield County seized thousands of stolen guns Friday hidden inside a home near Pageland.
Authorities said they received a tip, got a search warrant and found more than 10,000 guns. Officers also found hundreds of boxes of ammunition and tools.
Officials arrested Brent Nicholson on Saturday in Union County, North Carolina in connection to the guns. Officers transported him back to Pageland on a charge of possession of stolen goods.
Investigators believe he was buying the stolen guns and hoarding them, but they don't think he was re-selling them.
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"He was hoarding most of it, but it's all stolen material from all over numerous counties and it's going to take a lot to sort all this out,” Chesterfield County Sheriff Jay Brooks said.
Officers said they found truckloads of other items in Nicholson's home including tools and taxidermy.
Detectives said they found even more stolen guns in the liquor store they said Nicholson owned with his father and in his father's home.
"His name always popped up regarding stolen property and we finally got enough info for a search warrant," Brooks said.
Sheriff deputies in Union County also had their eyes on Nicholson.
They said several cases involving stolen guns led back to him.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will help officers build their case and determine who all these guns belong to.
"It may take two months before we know where they come from. Some we may never know. We may make every effort to return to rightful owner,” Brooks said.
Nicholson lived in the house with his wife. Officials said she and the Nicholson's father could also face charges.
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