Theft charges are piling up against a Youngwood gun shop owner who authorities said kept $153,000 from customers who either gave her firearms to sell on consignment or made down payments for purchases.

Tracey G. McMahan, 66, of Hempfield is charged in four cases — two filed Wednesday — involving about 30 customers who did business with Hi-Grade Shooters Supply.

“She would take in specifically very high-end firearms … on consignment and then sell them, mostly through the internet, to other people that would be interested all over the country,” Trooper Steve Limani said. “And then never give the money to the actual owner of the gun.”

Investigators said the thefts date to at least 2021. They are trying to find out if there are more customers who may be missing money after working with McMahan.

“We’re talking about a huge dollar figure that’s going to be owed to these victims,” Limani said.

Westmoreland County detectives and state police teamed up on the investigation, and each agency filed two cases. McMahan was operating the shop legally at the time, but the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was revoking her license, Limani said.

McMahan’s attorney Marco Sylvania declined to comment on the cases Wednesday while leaving district court in Hempfield. She waived her right to preliminary hearings in the four cases involving charges of theft and receiving stolen property.

Court papers filed by detectives and troopers detail numerous instances in which customers reported McMahan provided excuses about the status of their gun order or told them their firearm on consignment had been sold. When they asked about their proceeds, McMahan ceased communication, Detective Will Brown wrote in court papers.

Reports about the thefts started coming in to police in October. The first sets of charges were filed in November. Authorities heard from more customers afterward, leading to the two additional complaints being filed Wednesday.

The 34 guns given to McMahan for consignment were valued at thousands of dollars and some customers gave her more than one firearm to sell. Police said the highest values were $16,650 for three firearms and $14,500 for one.

At least one gun was returned to its owner, according to court papers.

Down payments ranged from $1,000 to $8,000. Police said McMahan kept the cash and never gave customers their guns. Police seized six firearms from the store Nov. 27.

“She has created quite a financial burden on many people,” Limani said.

Hi-Grade Shooters Supply on Reynolds Street had been a reputable family business run for years when McMahan inherited it, Limani said. Anyone who has been a customer there and has proof they were never compensated for a consignment sale or never received a gun for which they made a down payment is asked to call state police in Greensburg at 724-832-3288 or county detectives at 724-830-3287.

”She just was not conducting herself the way you’re supposed to, it’s real simple. It’s a theft … however you look at it,” Limani said.

McMahan is free on a cumulative $200,000 unsecured bond.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)