RCMP Watch

Peter Small (Toronto Star) - A retired RCMP officer who provided guns for a legendary con man has been sent to jail for five years for 10 firearms offences.

David Kift, 50, who served in the RCMP for 18 years and wrote a self-published book, The Naked Mountie, had been found guilty in December by Superior Court Justice Paul Rivard.

“Mr. Kift committed an egregious breach of trust. He presented himself as a retired RCMP officer,” Crown prosecutor Beverley Richards told the judge yesterday. He turned guns “into illegal killing weapons and (sold) them for no other reason than greed,” she said.

Richards asked for a 10-12 year sentence.

Kift, who represented himself, asked for a sentence of two years and a day. He told the judge he is appealing his conviction.

Referring to the prosecutor’s characterization of his actions, he said, “If I had done that, I would consider myself a monster.”

Among his convictions for crimes in March and April 2003 were: illegally transferring firearms; removing serial numbers from a firearm; and possession of a prohibited firearm – a Sten machine gun – together with ammunition, and an overcapacity cartridge.