Wisconsin man indicted for allegedly selling, smuggling firearms to buyers in Saudi Arabia

A Wisconsin man has been indicted for allegedly selling and smuggling firearms to buyers in Saudi Arabia by concealing the weapons in household items and automobile parts.

A six-count indictment accuses Mark John Buschman, 60, of Viroqua, of selling and shipping firearms and related parts without a license to buyers in Saudi Arabia and then lying about it.

According to the indictment, Buschman obtained firearms and advertised them for sale on eBay and other online websites. U.S. attorneys say the Viroqua man conducted an illegal export conspiracy for more than five years between February 2019 to December 2024. Buyers in Saudi Arabia paid about $398,000 for the weapons and related parts.

Court documents say serial numbers were removed from some of the firearms, including two Smith & Wesson handgun receivers. Buschman allegedly concealed smaller pistols inside toasters, rifle barrels in car axles and trigger and magazine assemblies in a coffee maker before shipment.

He shipped the weapons through the U.S. Postal Service and freight forwarding companies using a fake return address in Ohio, New Jersey, Oregon and elsewhere. However, Buschman didn’t declare the shipments contained firearms.

Buschman is accused of lying to a U.S. Postal Inspector when asked about the shipments.

“But who would’ve put these (handgun receivers) inside of the toaster?” the inspector asked according to court filings.

“I can’t tell you that. I do not know,” Buschman said according to court documents.

Buschman is facing charges on six counts:

• Conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States
• Attempted smuggling of goods from the United States
• Transporting and shipping firearms with removed, obliterated, or altered serial numbers
• Mailing firearms as nonmailable prohibited items
• Unlawful dealing in firearms without a license
• Making false statements to law enforcement 

Buschman has been released under conditions that he not possess firearms or travel outside of the region except for court proceedings. If convicted, he could face up to 42 years in prison or $1.5 million in fines.

An attorney for Buschman declined to comment on the charges.