Medals of Honor found in shop

Friday, Sept. 5, 2003 | 9:35 a.m.

The FBI and local authorities have recovered three military Medals of Honor from a local pawnshop owner who told investigators that he didn't realize it was a crime to sell the medals.

The three medals, one each from the Air Force, the Navy and the Army, were displayed in a window of Bargain Pawn, 1901 Las Vegas Blvd. North, said Special Agent Todd Palmer, an FBI spokesman.

"We got a tip that they were sitting in the window, and we went down and explained the legal issues concerning these kinds of medals," Palmer said. "The owner was not aware that it was illegal to purchase or sell medals and turned them over to us."

Unlawful sale of a Medal of Honor is a felony that could result in up to five years in prison and a $200,000 fine.

Bargain Pawn owner George Bramlett purchased the medals as part of a much larger collection of military awards and memorabilia.

Palmer said that because Bramlett didn't know about the laws regulating Medal of Honor sales, and he did not have any criminal intent, no charges were filed.

"He'll probably get a certificate of thanks from the Medal of Honor Society," Palmer said.

The Medal of Honor Society has teamed with the FBI to help ferret out unauthorized medals.

Fewer than 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded since the program's inception during the Civil War. Only 134 of the recipients of the award are alive today.